Expression vectors encoding bispecific fusion proteins and methods of producing biologically active bispecific fusion proteins in a mammalian cell

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an expression vector encoding monospecific or bispecific fusion protein. In one embodiment the expression vector encodes a monospecific fusion protein, which vector comprises a recombinant monospecific single chain cassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding a first binding domain capable of binding a cell surface antigen. In another embodiment the expression vector encodes a bispecific fusion protein, which vector comprises a recombinant bispecific single chain cassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding a first binding domain capable of binding a cell surface antigen and a DNA sequence encoding a second binding domain capable of binding a cell surface antigen, each domain capable of binding a different antigen. The present invention also provides a method for producing a biologically active monospecific or bispecific fusion protein in a mammalian cell. This method comprises: (a) transfecting the mammalian cell with the recombinant expression vector of the invention; (b) culturing the mammalian cell so transfected in step (a); and (c) recovering the biologically active bispecific fusion protein so as produced by the cultured mammalian cell.

This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No.08/539,436 filed Oct. 5, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,992, which is adivisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 08/121,054 filed Sep. 13, 1993,now U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,481, which is a continuation-in-part applicationof U.S. Ser. No. 08/013,420, filed Feb. 1, 1993, now abandoned; and thisapplication is a continuations in-part application of U.S. Ser. No.08/228,208, filed Apr. 15, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,914, which is acontinuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No. 08/008,898, filed Jan.22, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,197, which is a continuation-in-partapplication of U.S. Ser. No. 07/723,617, filed Jun. 27, 1991, nowabandoned, the contents of all of which are incorporated by referenceinto the present application.

Throughout this application various publications are referenced. Thedisclosures of these publications in their entireties are herebyincorporated by reference into this application in order to more fullydescribe the state of the art to which this invention pertains.

The present invention relates to expression vectors encoding bispecificfusion proteins and methods for producing a biologically activebispecific fusion protein in a mammalian cell.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Because of the problems associated with traditional antibody technologysuch as obtaining antibody from sera or hybridoma technology, geneticengineering has been used with increasing frequency to design,manipulate, and produce antibodies or antibody derivative molecules(such as bispecific fusion proteins) with a desired set of bindingproperties and effector functions.

Difficulties encountered with the production of stable hybridomasproducing human antibody have led to the development of alternativetechnologies designed to circumvent in vivo antibody production andconventional in vitro techniques (Mayforth R. D., Quintans, J. (1990)Current Concepts: Designer and catalytic antibodies. New Eng. J. Med.323:173-178; Waldmann, T. A. (1991) Monoclonal antibodies in diagnosisand therapy. Science 252:1657-1662; Winter, G., Milstein, C. (1991)Man-made Antibodies. Nature 349:293-299; Morrison, S. L. (1992) In Vitroantibodies: strategies for production and application. Ann. Rev.Immunol. 10:239-266).

Initial attempts to couple the binding specificities of two wholeantibodies against different target antigens for therapeutic purposesutilized chemically conjugated “heteroconjugate” molecules (Staerz, U.D., Kanagawa, O., Becan, M. J. (1985) Hybrid antibodies can target sitesfor attack by T cells. Nature 314:628-631; Perez, P., Hoffman, R. W.,Shaw, S., Bluestone, J. A., Segal, D. M. (1985) Specific targeting ofcytotoxic T cells by anti-T3 linked to anti-target antibody. Nature316:354-356; Liu, M. A., Kranz, D. M., Kurnick, J. T., Boyle, L. A.,Levy, R., Eisen, H. N. (1985) Heteroantibody duplexes target cells forlysis by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA82:8648-8652; Jung, G., Ledbetter, J. A., Muller-Eberhard, H. J. (1987)Induction of cytotoxicity in resting human T lymphocytes bound to tumorcells by antibody heteroconjugates. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA84:4611-4615; Emmrich, F., Rieber, P., Kurrie, R., Eichmann, K. (1988)Selective stimulation of human T lymphocyte subsets by heteroconjugatesof antibodies to the T cell receptor and to subset-specificdifferentiation antigens. Eur. J. Immunol. 18:645-648; Ledbetter, J. A.,June, C. H., Rabinovitch, P. S., Grossman, A., Tsu, T. T., Imboden, J.B. (1988) Signal transduction through CD4 proximity to the CD3/T cellreceptor. Eur. J. Immunol. 18:525-532).

These attempts demonstrated that monoclonal antibodies directed againstthe murine or human CD3 T cell surface receptor chemically linked toanti-target cell antibodies trigger lysis of target cells by cytotoxic-Tlymphocytes (CTL), overcoming the major histocompatibility complexrestriction of CTL.

Bispecific antibodies have been produced from hybrid hybridomas byheterohybridoma techniques and have demonstrated properties in vitrosimilar to those observed for heteroconjugates (Milstein, C., Cuello, A.C. (1983) Hybrid hybridomas and their use in immunohistochemistry.Nature 305:537-540; Staerz, U. D., Bevan, M. J. (1986) Hybrid hybridomaproducing a bispecific monoclonal antibody that can focus effector cellactivity. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:1453-1457; Clark, M. R.,Waldmann, H. (1987) T-cell killing of target cells induced by hybridantibodies: comparison of two bispecific monoclonal antibodies. J. Natl.Cancer Inst. 79:1393-1401; Lanzavecchia, A., Scheidegger, D. (1987) Theuse of hybrid hybridomas to target cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Eur. J.Immunol. 17:105-111; Gilliland, L. K., Clark, M. R., Waldmann, H. (1988)Universal bispecific antibody for targeting tumour cells for destructionby cytotoxic T cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:7719-7723). However,such antibodies were produced from cell fusions.

Despite the promising results obtained using heteroconjugates orbispecific antibodies from cell fusions, several factors made themimpractical for large scale therapeutic applications. Such factorsinclude (1) rapid clearance of large heteroconjugates in vivo, (2) thelabor intensive techniques required for generating either type ofmolecule, (3) the need for extensive purification away from thehomoconjugates or mono-specific antibodies, and (4) low yields.

Generally, procedures associated with using heteroconjugates orbispecific antibodies involve co-expression approaches with twodifferent specificities in which the sequences encoding the heavy (H)and/or light (L) immunoglobulin chains are not linked and thus sufferfrom the problem of random H-L association, and/or random (HL)—(HL)association, leading to only a small percentage of correct product andto difficult purification schemes. Purification may become cumbersomeand the characterization difficult, if there is an excessive number ofmonospecific or non-specific protein molecules.

In an effort to eliminate these problems, genetic engineering has beenused to generate bispecific or bifunctional single chain antibodies invitro (Haber et al., 1990; Wels, W., Harwerth, I. M., Zwickl, M.,Hardman, N., Groner B., Hynes, N. E. (1992) Construction, bacterialexpression and characterization of a bifunctional single-chain antibodyphosphatase fusion protein targeted to the human EREB-2 receptor.Biotechnology 10:1128-1132; A. Traunecker et al. (1991) EMBO Journal10(12):3655-3659). However, such efforts have not been promising.

Bispecific or bifunctional single chain antibodies have been produced ina bacterial system. However, such fusion proteins have been produced ininactive form (Haber et al., 1990). Further, the fusion proteins soproduced exhibit reductions in binding affinities and/or avidities orrequire complicated isolation and purification procedures to recover thedesired products (Haber et al., 1990; Wels et al., 1992a).

Monovalent single chain antibodies and bifunctional single chainantibodies have been expressed (Wels, 1992b). The antibody moleculeswere genetically engineered to minimize their size and to allow fortheir functional modification. Moreover, the bifunctional antibody isbifunctional only in that the bacterial alkaline phosphatase gene wasjoined 3′ to the scF_(v) gene. These bifunctional antibodies include asingle binding domain (e.g., V_(L)+V_(H)) and the alkaline phosphatasegene was used merely as a marker to detect the antibodies so bound toits target.

Janusin molecules containing FvCD3 and CD4 sequences have been expressed(A. Traunecker et al. “Bispecific single chain molecules (Janusins)target cytotoxic lymphocytes on HIV infected cells, EMBO Journal10(12):3655-3659). The janusin construct comprises a portion of the CD4molecule in the amino terminus of the construct and the binding domain(i.e., V_(L)+V_(H)) of CD3 in the carboxy terminus of the construct.Janusin molecules do not comprise helical peptide linkers which separatethe CD3 variable regions from portions of the CD4 molecule. Moreover,janusin molecules are sometimes found in multimeric or aggregate forms.Additional purification is sometimes required to avoid aggregateformation.

There is a need for the subject invention in view of the problemsdiscussed hereinabove concerning antibody production. At present, thereis a persisting problem associated with antibody technology, namely, thedifficulty in obtaining large quantities of specific antibody.Historically, antibodies were obtained from sera or hybridomas of mouseorigin. However, sera were often of limited quantity and variablequality. Moreover, antibodies of mouse origin have limited usefulnessfor human treatment because of their propensity to initiate an immuneresponse sometimes deleterious to non-mouse subjects.

In order to overcome the problems which specifically plague antibodytechnology and more generally the problems associated with theproduction of substantial amounts of functional protein molecules, a newexpression vector which facilitates the expression of biologicallyactive fusion proteins is described herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an expression vector encoding.monospecific or bispecific fusion protein.

In one embodiment, the expression vector encodes a monospecific fusionprotein (e.g., FIG. 9), which vector comprises a recombinantmonospecific single chain cassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding afirst binding domain capable of binding a target such as a cell surfaceantigen.

In another embodiment, the expression vector encodes a bispecific fusionprotein; the vector comprises a recombinant bispecific single chaincassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding a first binding domaincapable of binding a target and a DNA sequence encoding a second bindingdomain capable of binding a target, each domain capable of binding adifferent target.

The present invention also provides a method for producing abiologically active monospecific or bispecific fusion protein in amammalian cell. This method comprises: (a) transfecting the mammaliancell with the recombinant expression vector of the invention; (b)culturing the mammalian cell so transfected in step (a); and (c)recovering the biologically active bispecific fusion protein so producedby the cultured mammalian cell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the pCDM8 expression vector including therecombinant monospecific single chain cassette including differentmolecular tags, or a simple stop codon.

FIG. 2A is a diagram of the pCDM8 expression vector including therecombinant bispecific single chain cassette.

FIG. 2B is a photograph of a western blot of single chain anti-L6,anti-CD3, and anti-CD3-L6 bispecific fusion protein molecules. Serumfree spent culture medium from COS cell transfections was collected andpurified by protein A affinity chromatography. Protein was resuspendedin loading buffer and subjected to SDS-PAGE gradient gel (5-16%)electrophoresis under nonreducing (A) or reducing (B) conditions,blotted to nitrocellulose, and detected with alkaline phosphataseconjugated anti-human IgG. Panel A: lane 1=Chimeric L6 mAb (0.5 μg);lane 2=anti-L6 WTD (0.5 μg); lane 3=CD3-L6FvIg bispecific (0.5 μg); lane4=L6FvIg (0.6 μg); and lane 5=CD3Fv-Ig (0.4 μg). Panel B: lane1=CD3Fv-Ig (0.4 μg); lane 2=L6FvIg (0.6 μg); lane 3=CD3-L6FvIgbispecific (0.5 μg); lane 4=anti-L6 WTD (0.5 μg); and lane 5=Chimeric L6mAb (0.5 μg).

FIG. 3 are FACS plots showing L6FvIg, CD3FvIg, CD3-L6FvIg and BR96binding to cells expressing target antigen.

FIG. 4A shows that the L6Fv was fused to several different mutantderivatives of the human IgG1 Fc domain, including DIMER-WT (SEQ IDNO:19), MONOMER-MUT1 (SEQ ID NO:20), MONOMER-WT (SEQ ID NO:21),MONOMER-MUT2 (SEQ ID NO:22), and DIMER-MUTI (SEQ ID NO:23). Each mutantand the sequence changes introduced into the hinge and/or the CH2 domainare indicated (SEQ ID NO: 19-23). In addition, the ability of eachconstruct to mediate CDC and ADCC are shown.

FIG. 4B is a line graph of the saturation analysis of the L6 derivativesor chimeric L6 which were incubated with H2981 tumor cells atprogressively lower concentrations (three-fold serial dilutions) andbinding was detected with FITC-conjugated anti-idiotype against L6 assecond step reagent. Saturation binding curves were generated from thesedata and fluorescence intensity was plotted as a function of antibodyconcentration. Legend: Chimeric L6 (open diamond), WTD (open square),DM1 (open triangle), HS1 (plus sign), HS2 (“X” sign), and HS3 (opencircle).

FIG. 4C is a line graph of the inhibition analysis of H2981 tumor cellswhich were incubated with serial dilutions of each antibody derivativefor 30 min and FITC-conjugated L6 at 1 μg/ml for 30 min prior to FACSanalysis. The fluorescence intensity was plotted as a function ofantibody concentration for each molecule. Legend: Chimeric L6 (opendiamond), WTD (open square), DM1 (open triangle), HS1 (plus sign), HS2(“X” sign), and HS3 (open circle).

FIG. 4D is a line graph showing the results when H2981 tumor cells werelabelled for 2 hours with ⁵¹Cr, washed, and added to IMDM/10% FBScontaining 10-fold serial dilutions of antibody derivatives, and humanPBL as effector cells at an effector to target ratio of 100:1. Assayswere incubated for 4.5 hours, spun, and 100 μl measured for releasedcounts with a gamma counter. Percentage kill was calculated using thefollowing formula: % kill=[(mean cpm-mean spontaneous release)/(meanmaximal release-mean spontaneous release)]×100. Values represent themeans of triplicate cultures (SEM<10%).

FIGS. 5A-D are line graphs showing that CD3FvIg mobilizes intracellularcalcium in peripheral blood T cells and that pretreatment with CD3FvIgdesensitizes the response of peripheral blood T cells to subsequentsimulation of cross linked CD2.

FIG. 6 is a bar graph showing that the bispecific molecule CD3-L6Igmediates adhesion between H2981 and Jurkat cells and thus is capable ofbinding to CD3- and L6-expressing cells simultaneously.

FIG. 7 is a bar graph showing that CD3-L6FvIg bispecific fusion proteinstarget T cell cytotoxicity to H2981 tumor cells.

FIG. 8 is a bar graph showing that CD3-L6FvIg bispecific proteinstimulates high levels of T cell proliferation when bound to H2981 TumorCells.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the modification of the expressionvector pCDM8 for expression of the monospecific antibody variableregions as fusion proteins with the Fc domain from human IgG1.

FIG. 10A is a diagram of the structure of L6Fv-Ig derivatives, withlinker sequences indicated by the black lines and each functional domainindicated by a shaded box.

FIG. 10B is a comparison of the Fc construct of chimeric L6 (SEQ IDNO:24), WTD (SEQ ID NO:24), DM1 (SEQ ID NO:25), HS1 (SEQ ID NO:26), HS2(SEQ ID NO:27), and HS3 (SEQ ID. NO:28) including their sequences, andwhether they exhibit ADCC or CDC activity. The L6 Fv was fused toseveral different mutant derivatives of the Fc domain from human IgG1.The sequence changes introduced into the hinge and/or the CH2 domain areindicated by underlined amio acids, with the construct identificationlisted to the left. fused to several different mutant derivatives of theFc domain from human IgG1. The sequence changes introduced into thehinge and/or the CH2 domain are indicated by underlined amino acids,with the construct identification listed to the left.

FIG. 10C is a line graph of the ADCC characteristics of H2981 tumorcells which were labelled for 2 h with ⁵¹Cr, washed, and added toIMDM+10% FBS containing tenfold serial dilutions of antibodyderivatives, and human PBL as effector cells at an effector to targetratio of 100:1. Assays were incubated for 4.5 hours, spun, and 100 μl ofsupernatant was measured for counts released. Percentage kill wascalculated as [(mean cpm-mean spontaneous release)/(mean maximalrelease-mean spontaneous release)]×100. Values represent the means oftriplicate cultures (SEM<10%). Legend: Chimeric L6 (open diamond), WTD(open square), DM1 (open triangle), HS1 (plus sign), HS2 (“X” sign), andHS3 (open circle).

FIG. 10D is a line graph of an assay similar to FIG. 10(C) which wasperformed to measure complement killing but using complement instead ofPBL. Legend: Chimeric L6 (open diamond), WTD (open square), DM1 (opentriangle), HS1 (plus sign), HS2 (“X” sign), and HS3 (open circle).

FIG. 11 is the amino acid (SEQ ID NO:32) and nucleic acid sequences (SEQID NO:29) of L6V_(L) leader, CD3 F_(v) (V_(L)−V_(H)), and the Fvlinkhelical linker (SEQ ID NO:18). The nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:33)and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:34) of a (Gly₄Ser)₃ linker (e.g.,GGGGSGGGGSGGGGS) is also shown.

FIGS. 12(A/B) are PAGE gels showing that CD3FvIg stimulates strongtyrosine phosphorylation and activation of PLCγ1 in T cells, and inducesthe association of PLCγ1 with pp35/36.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Definitions

As used in this application, the following words or phrases have themeanings specified.

As used herein, a “bispecific fusion protein” means any immunologicallyreactive molecule which specifically recognizes and binds at least twodifferent targets at alternate times or at the same time and isexpressed as a single chain.

As used herein, a “monospecific fusion protein” means anyimmunologically reactive molecule which specifically recognizes andbinds a target and is a complex comprising two heavy immunoglobulinchains, two light immunoglobulin chains, or a heavy and/or lightimmunoglobulin chain and/or any portions thereof and is expressed as asingle chain.

As used herein, an “expression vector” means a nucleic acid moleculecomprising (1) a promoter and other sequences (e.g. leader sequences)necessary to direct expression of a desired gene or DNA sequence and (2)the desired gene or DNA sequence. Optionally, the nucleic acid moleculemay comprise a poly A signal sequence to enhance the stability of thegene transcript and/or an enhancer sequence to increase thetranscription of the gene thereby affecting the expression of the gene.

As used herein, a “binding domain” means a binding site which recognizesand binds the entire binding area of a target or any portion thereof.Examples include, but are not limited to, (1) a single variable regionof an antibody (V_(L) or V_(H)); (2) two or more variable regions (e.g.V_(L)+V_(H); V_(L)+V_(L); or V_(H)+V_(H)) or the complementarydetermining region (CDR) thereof, or (3) an antigen (such as a leucocyteantigen) or a portion thereof.

As used herein, a “molecular tag” includes any DNA sequence. encoding amolecule which may facilitate detection and purification of the fusionproteins described herein.

As used herein, a “bispecific single chain cassette” includes a DNAsequence encoding a first binding domain capable of binding a target anda DNA sequence encoding a second binding domain capable of binding atarget, each domain capable of binding a different target at alternatetimes or at the same time, both domains encoded by DNA sequences beingon the same cassette. The first and/or second binding domains may be twovariable regions (V_(L)+V_(H), V_(H)+V_(L), V_(L)+V_(L), or V_(H)+V_(H))or a single variable region (V_(L) or V_(H)). Alternatively, the firstand/or second binding domains may be an antigen or portion thereof.Suitable examples of antigens include but are not limited to theleucocyte antigens. The first binding domain is located in or towardsthe amino terminus of the expressed protein while the second bindingdomain is located in or towards the carboxy terminus of the expressedprotein (corresponding to the 5′ or 3′ end, respectively, of the DNAsequences of the bispecific single chain DNA cassette).

As used herein, a “single chain cassette” means a sequence which encodesproteins being able to recognize and bind at least a portion of itstarget. Such proteins may have multiple sites for recognizing andbinding multiple targets.

In order that the invention herein described may be more fullyunderstood, the following description is set forth.

A. Vectors

The expression vector described herein may be modified by wholly orpartially replacing particular DNA sequences encoding binding domains(i.e., the coding sequences thereof) or regulatory sequences, i.e. apromoter or other sequences necessary to direct expression of thedesired gene (e.g., leader sequences), within the expression plasmid.

The DNA sequence so replaced in the modified expression vector mayencode any variable region of any antibody or other receptor. Forexample, the DNA sequence may encode the variable region or regions ofan antibody which recognizes and binds the BR96 antigen, CD3, L6, CD28,CTLA4, or B7. Additionally, the DNA sequence may encode variable regionscapable of binding to other cell surface antigens. Alternatively, thebinding domains may encode all or part of an antigen such as theleucocyte antigen. The primary consideration on whether to insert aparticular replacement sequence is whether the sequence so replaced ispositioned “in-frame” so that the desired binding domain can beexpressed.

The sequences so replaced may be cloned by the method of polymerasechain reaction (PCR). PCR may be used to produce a multiplicity of DNAsequences which can be inserted into the expression vector which in turncan transform a eucaryotic cell and thereby express the DNA sequence.Other cloning methods, e.g., ligase chain reaction (LCR), that achievemultiplication of specific sequences can also be used.

The promoter of the expression vector may be easily replaced with otherpromoters depending on the type of cells used for expression or the DNAsequence being inserted. Suitable examples of promoters includecytomegalovirus (CMV), avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV) and Moloneymurine leukemia virus (MMLV).

Antibodies in their native, monomeric form are four-chain macromoleculescontaining two identical heavy chains and two identical light chains permolecule. Each chain is made up of a variable (V) region and a constant(C) region. The variable region of the light chain (V_(L)) is encoded byvariable (V) plus joining (J) region genes; the variable region of theheavy chain (V_(H)) is encoded by variable (V) plus joining (J) regiongenes with an intervening diversity (D) region. Each variable regionfragment (V_(L) or V_(H)) encoded by V_(L)+J_(L) or by V_(H)+D_(H)+J_(H)sequences is composed of approximately 100 amino acids. Contained withinthese sequences are three regions of hypervariability calledcomplementarity determining regions (CDR) that appear to contain theamino acids that line the antibody's combining site. The CDRs areinterspersed in four regions of much lower variability called frameworkregions (FR).

The antigen binding pocket of the antibody is typically formed by theassociation of V_(L) and V_(H) region polypeptides into their β-pleatedsheet conformation, with the CDR regions contained at, or near, theloops between strands. Occasionally the V_(L)+V_(L) pairs or theV_(H)+V_(H) pairs (e.g. G17-2 light chain monomers) or the V_(L) orV_(H) alone can bind antigen.

Therefore, the “binding domain” comprises one or a combination of thefollowing: (a) a V_(L) plus a V_(H) region of an immunoglobulin (IgG,IgM or other immunoglobulin), (b) a V_(L) plus V_(L) region of animmunoglobulin (IgG, IgM or other immunoglobulin), (c) a V_(H) plusV_(H) region of an immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM or other immunoglobulin),(d) a single V_(L) region of an immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM or otherimmunoglobulin), or (e) a single V_(H) region of an immunoglobulin (IgG,IgM or other immunoglobulin).

Expression vectors according to the present invention are not limited tovectors incorporating antibody sequences. Sequences encoding bindingdomains of other types of proteins such as antigens and receptors canalso be used. Thus, the vectors encode bispecific fusion proteins whichcan bind different multiple targets, at alternate or at essentially thesame time.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the recombinant single chaincassette comprises multiple DNA sequences encoding multiple (1) variableregions and/or (2) antigens or portions thereof, each with distinctspecificities. In the cassette, the sequence encoding a variable regionis preferably joined to DNA encoding a) another variable region or b) anantigen or antigens, by linkers, all of which are arranged in tandem.Typically, such linkers are helical in structure. Helical peptidelinkers permit proper folding of the protein molecule. Further, helicalpeptide linkers may enhance the solubility of the molecule. In contrastto expressing a single variable region alone (V_(L) or V_(H)), twovariable regions as a single chain protein (V_(L)+V_(H); V_(L)+V_(L);V_(H)+V_(H)) require linking of the individual variable regions by shortlinkers, e.g., (Gly₄Ser)₃ (SEQ. ID. NO:34) linkers.

A whole range of short linkers may be used to join immunoglobulin chainsof a V_(L)+V_(H) (F_(v)) fragment (Huston, J. S., Levinson, D.,Mudgett-Hunter, M., Tai, M. S., Novotny, J., Margolies, M. N., Ridge, R.J., Bruccoleri, R. E., Haber, E., Crea, R., Oppermann, H. (1988) Proteinengineering of antibody binding sites: recovery of specific activity inan antidigoxin single-chain Fv analogue produced in Escherichia coli.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883; Pluckthün, 1991). Such linkersare passive entities during protein folding. Generally such linkers arehydrophilic and flexible.

Conventionally, there are several means for linking the immunoglobulinchains of a F_(v) fragment, i.e. by chemical cross-linking (Glockshuberet al., 1991); natural cross-linking by disulfide bonds (Glockshuber,1990a) ; natural association without disulfide bonds; and connecting bya genetically encoded peptide linker (Bird, R. E., Hardman, K. D.,Jacobson, J. W., Johnson, S., Kaufman, B. M., Lee, S. M., Lee, T., Pope,S. H., Riordan, G. S., Whitlow, M. (1988) Single-chain antigen-bindingproteins. Science 242:423-427; Huston et al., 1988a).

The single chain cassettes may comprise multiple linkers. The primarylimitation on the number of linkers is that number which still permitsthe expression of functional fusion proteins encoded by the vectors ofthe invention.

Linkers encoding helical peptides of the invention (e.g., SEQ ID NOS:10, 11, 12) may be modified, i.e., by amino acid substitutions withinthe molecule, so as to produce derivative molecules thereof. Suchderivative molecules would retain the functional property of the helicalpeptide linker, namely, the molecule having such substitutions willstill permit the expression of the biologically active protein productencoded by the novel expression vector of the invention.

These amino acid substitutions include, but are not necessarily limitedto, amino acid substitutions known in the art as “conservative”.

For example, it is a well-established principle of protein chemistrythat certain amino acid substitutions, entitled “conservative amino acidsubstitutions,” can frequently be made in a protein without alteringeither the conformation or the function of the protein. Such changesinclude substituting any of isoleucine (I), valine (V), and leucine (L)for any other of these hydrophobic amino acids; aspartic acid (D) forglutamic acid (E) and vice versa; glutamine (Q) for asparagine (N) andvice versa; and serine (S) for threonine (T) and vice versa.

Other substitutions can also be considered conservative, depending onthe environment of the particular amino acid and its role in thethree-dimensional structure of the protein. For example, glycine (G) andalanine (A) can frequently be interchangeable, as can alanine and valine(V).

Methionine (M), which is relatively hydrophobic, can frequently beinterchanged with leucine and isoleucine, and sometimes with valine.Lysine (K) and arginine (R) are frequently interchangeable in locationsin which the significant feature of the amino acid residue is its chargeand the differing pK's of these two amino acid residues are notsignificant. Still other changes can be considered “conservative” inparticular environments.

Vectors encoding fusion proteins comprising antibody variable regionswith light and/or heavy chain sequences and non-antibody binding domainor domains are encompassed by the present invention. The first and/orthe second binding domains may be a variable region or regions of anantibody. Alternatively, the first and/or the second binding domains maybe an antigen or a portion or portions thereof. Preferably the portionof the antigen includes that portion that can be recognized and to whicha molecule can bind after recognition. For example, in a transmembraneprotein antigen, the prefered portion would be the extracellularportion. However, other portions are also encompassed by the invention.

Examples of suitable antigens and receptors include, but are not limitedto, CD and non-CD molecules.

CD molecules include, but are not limited to, CD1, CD2, CD3/TcR, CD4,CD5, CD6, CD7, CD8, CD9, CD10, CD11, CD12, CD13, CD14, CD15, CD16,CDw17, CD18, CD19, CD20, CD21, CD22, CD23, CD24, CD25, CD26, CD27, CD28,CD29, CD30, CD31, CDw32, CD33, CD34, CD35, CD36, CD37, CD38, CD39, CD40,CD41, CD42a,b, CD43, CD44, CD45, CD46, CD47, CD48, CD49, CDw50, CD51,CDw52, CD53, CD54, CD55, CD56, CD57, CD58, CD59, CDw60, CD61, CD62,CD63, CD64, CDw65, CD66, CD67, CD68, CD69, CDw70, CD71, CD72, CD73,CD74, CDw75, CD76, CDw78.

Non-CD molecules include, but are not limited to, B7, B7(2), CTLA4,BR96, GP39, LFA-3, ICAM-2, and interleukin (IL) 1-8.

For example, CD28 antigen is a homodimeric glycoprotein of theimmunoglobulin superfamily (Aruffo, A., Seed, B. (1987) Molecularcloning of a CD28 cDNA by a high-efficiency COS cell expression system.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:8573-8577) found on most mature human Tcells (Damle et al. (1983) J. Immunol. 131:2296-2300). Monoclonalantibodies (mAbs) reactive with CD28 antigen can augment T cellresponses initiated by various polyclonal stimuli. A homologousmolecule, CTLA4 has been identified by differential screening of amurine cytolytic-T cell cDNA library (Brunet et al. (1987) Nature328:267-270).

The expression vectors of the invention encompass vectors capable ofencoding multi-specific fusion proteins, i.e., a molecule capable ofreacting with many targets. For example, the expression vector mayencode a trispecific fusion protein capable of being expressed in asingle chain, namely, a fusion protein which recognizes and binds tothree targets. Alternatively, the fusion protein may recognize and bindfour targets.

For example, in one embodiment, the monospecific fusion proteins encodedby the vectors of the invention are similar to the single chain antibodyin FIG. 9.

In one embodiment of the invention, the expression vector comprises (1)a DNA sequence encoding a first binding domain of an antibody or a cellsurface antigen, (2) a DNA sequence encoding a second binding domain ofan antibody or a cell surface antigen, (3) a linker encoding a helicalpeptide which links the DNA sequence encoding the first binding domainand the DNA sequence encoding the second binding domain, and (4) a DNAsequence encoding a molecular tag for detection of the monospecific orbispecific fusion protein.

The molecular tag may be identified by the appropriate molecule whichrecognizes and binds the molecular tag such as an antibody, acomplementary sense or antisense molecule, an enzyme, etc. Examples ofmolecular tags include an F_(c) fragment, an HIV fragment, and thehemagglutinin epitope sequence HA1 (Pati et al. (1992) Gene 114(2):285-8).

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the expression vectorcomprises a recombinant bispecific single chain DNA cassette whichcomprises (1) a DNA sequence encoding a first binding domain of anantibody or a cell surface antigen, (2) a DNA sequence encoding a secondbinding domain of an antibody or a cell surface antigen, and (3) alinker encoding a helical peptide which links the DNA sequence encodingthe first binding domain and the DNA sequence encoding the secondbinding domain, each of said domains capable of binding the same or adifferent target or antigen.

In accordance with the practice of the invention, the first and/orsecond binding domain may be reactive with a cell surface antigen orleucocyte antigen. Cell surface antigens include, but are not limitedto, molecules such as CD3, L6, CD28, CTLA4, CD40 or B7. Thus, the firstand/or second binding domain may be reactive with CD3. Also, the firstand/or second binding domain may be reactive with L6. Further, the firstand/or second binding domain may be reactive with CD28. Additionally,the first and/or second binding domain may be reactive with B7. Further,the first and/or second binding domain may be reactive with CD40.

In a preferred embodiment, the expression vector is designated CC9-2deposited with the American Tissue Culture Collection (ATCC) in the E.Coli plasmid CC9-2 having the L6 V_(L) leader sequence-CD3sF_(v)-linker-L6 sF_(v)-immunoglobulin F_(c) in pCDM8) having ATCC No.69235. It would be clear to one skilled in the art that any DNA sequencemay be used. The only requirement is that the coding sequence of thevariable region(s) or molecule to be used must be known so that it maybe inserted in the cassette for proper alignment and correct readingframe for expression.

Additionally, an expression vector encoding a bispecific fusion proteinis provided which comprises a recombinant bispecific single chaincassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding a variable region(s) of anyantibody and a DNA sequence encoding a ligand. Examples of such ligandsinclude but are not limited to B7, CTLA4, CD28, CD40, CD3. Otherexamples of ligands include any of the leucocyte antigens.

(DNA encoding the amino acid sequence corresponding to the CTLA4Igfusion protein has been deposited with the American Type CultureCollection (ATCC) 01801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va., 20110-2209,under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty on May 31, 1991 and has beenaccorded ATCC accession number: 68629.

For example, the present invention provides an expression vectorencoding a bispecific fusion protein comprising a recombinant bispecificsingle chain cassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding a domain whichis reactive with CD3 and a DNA sequence encoding a domain which isreactive with L6. The first or second binding domain may be reactivewith CD3. The first or second binding domain may be reactive with L6.

This invention further provides an expression vector encoding abispecific fusion protein comprising a recombinant bispecific singlechain cassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding a domain which is atleast a portion of B7 (e.g., the extracellular portion) and a DNAsequence encoding a domain which is reactive with L6.

This invention additionally provides an expression vector encoding abispecific fusion protein comprising a recombinant bispecific singlechain cassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding a domain which isreactive with CTLA4 and a DNA sequence encoding a domain which isreactive with L6. The first or second binding domain may be reactivewith CTLA4. The first or second binding domain may be reactive with L6.

Also, the present invention provides an expression vector encoding abispecific fusion protein comprising a recombinant bispecific singlechain cassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding a domain which isreactive with CD28 and a DNA sequence encoding a domain which isreactive with L6. The first or second binding domain may be reactivewith CD28. The first or second binding domain may be reactive with L6.

For example, the present invention provides an expression vectorencoding a bispecific fusion protein which comprises a recombinantbispecific single chain cassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding adomain which is reactive with CD3 and a DNA sequence encoding theextracellular portion of B7.

Methods for producing expression vectors and the biologically activebispecific fusion proteins according to the present invention areprovided. In general these methods comprise (1) isolating mRNA from a Bcell hybridoma or other cultured cell synthesizing an antibody or otherbinding protein; (2) synthesizing cDNA by reverse transcription; (3)cloning binding domains such as the variable region(s) usinganchor-tailed oligonucleotides or degenerate oligonucleotides as PCRprimers; (4) sequencing the variable region(s) so cloned; (5)constructing gene fusions between variable region genes; (6) insertingthe variable region(s) so constructed into a pUCIg vector (or othersuitable vectors) cut with SalI and BclI; (7) screening clones forproper fragment configuration and sequencing such clones; (8)transferring the clones into a suitable expression vector such as pCDM8or piLNXAn; (9) transfecting COS cells by a technique such as theDEAE-Dextran technique; (10) incubating the cells so transfected for atime sufficient for fusion proteins to be expressed, typically about 72hours; and (11) screening such cells by FACS using FITC goat anti-humanIgG and/or ELISA for the production of biologically active bispecificfusion protein.

B. Methods for Producing the Biologically Active Bispecific FusionProtein

A method for producing a biologically active bispecific fusion proteinis provided. This method comprises culturing the cells so transfectedwith the expression vector of the present invention so as to produce thebispecific fusion protein and recovering the protein so produced.

This invention further provides a method for producing a biologicallyactive bispecific fusion protein in a mammalian cell. This methodcomprises (a) transfecting the mammalian cell with the expression vectorof the invention; (b) culturing the mammalian cell so transfected instep (a); and (c) recovering the biologically active bispecific fusionprotein so produced by the cultured mammalian cell.

The method for recovering the biologically active bispecific fusionprotein comprises: (a) identifying the biologically active bispecificfusion protein by the presence of the molecular tag; and (b) separatingthe biologically active bispecific fusion protein having the moleculartag so identified from molecules without the molecular tag, so as torecover the biologically active bispecific fusion protein so produced bythe cultured mammalian cell.

Although in the examples which follow cells of mammalian origin areused, in principle, any eucaryotic cell is useful in the practice of thesubject invention. Examples include human cells, for example fibroblastcells, and cells from other animals such as ovine, porcine, murine,bovine. Specific examples of mammalian cells include COS, HeLa, CHO,DUX, Bll, Sp2/0, W138, DHK, and HEPG2 cells.

It would be clear that the biologically active bispecific fusionproteins may be linked to detectable markers and therapeutic agents foruse in diagnosis, both in vivo and in vitro, and for use in therapy.Among the detectable markers to which such biologically activebispecific fusion proteins can be linked are enzymes, paramagnetic ionsor compounds, members of the avidin-biotin specific binding pair,fluorophores, chromophores, chemiluminophores, heavy metals, andradioisotopes. Among the therapeutic agents to which the biologicallyactive bispecific fusion proteins can be linked are antineoplasticagents, lymphokines, and toxins.

C. Cells Transfected with the Expression Vectors of the Invention

Introduction of the expression vector into mammalian cells may beeffected by calcium phosphate transfection (Graham and Vander Eb. (1973)Virol. 52:456-467), DEAE-dextran transfection (Lopata, M. A. et al.,(1984) Nucl. Acids Res. 12:5707), and electroporation (Potter, H. et al.(1984) PNAS 81:7161). The choice of transfection method depends in parton what type of transfection is to be performed. Both electroporationand CaPO₄ transfection can be used to efficiently produce cell linescontaining stably integrated DNA. Electroporation is most easily doneusing suspension cultures, while CaPO₄ transfection is most easily doneusing adherent cells. DEAE-dextran transfection does not work well whenproducing stable cell lines, but is more reproducible than CaPO₄transfections when used in transient protocols. Other transfectionmethods are also known in the art.

The expression vectors and novel proteins produced by the methodsdescribed herein are not limited to the variable regions set forthhereinabove but are generally applicable to the construction,expression, and screening of any single chain bispecific fusion protein.

D. Uses of the Fusion Proteins Encoded by Vectors of the Invention

The anti-L6 and anti-CD3 single chain derivatives lacking molecular tagsmay be useful in therapy or diagnosis for treatment or detection of L6or CD3 associated diseases. For example, the L6sFv could be chemicallyattached to a radionuclide for detection or genetically fused to a toxinsuch as PE40 for therapy.

Because smaller sFv fragments are better able to penetrate tumor massand have shown improved localization at tumor sites, smaller doses ofL6sFv may be effective in targeting: therapeutic agents to tumor cellsthat express high levels of L6 antigen (Colcher, D., Bird, R., Roselli,M., Hardman, K. D., Johnson, S., Pope, S., Dodd, S. W., Pantoliano, M.W., Milenic, D. E., Schlom, J. (1990) In vivo tumor targeting of arecombinant single-chain antigen-binding protein. J. Nat. Cancer Inst.82:1191-1197; Yokota, T., Milenic, D. E., Whitlow, M., Schlom, J. (1992)Rapid tumor penetration of a single-chain Fv and comparison with otherimmunoglobulin forms. Cancer Res. 52:3402-3408).

The CD3sFv may well be suited for induction of immunosuppression in vivosince delivery of a T cell receptor signal in the absence of a secondsignal such as ligation of CD28 can lead to T cell anergy. It has beendemonstrated that F(ab′)2 fragments of OKT3 are immunosuppressive whilemarkedly reducing the cytokine toxicity associated with whole antibodyOKT3-induced immunosuppression (Woodle, E. S., Thistlethwaithe, J. R.,Ghobrial, I. A., Jolliffe, L. K., Stuart, F. P., Bluestone, J. A. (1991)OKT3 F(ab′)2 fragments: retention of the immunosuppressve properties ofwhole antibody with marked reduction in T cell activation and lymphokinerelease. Transplantation 52:354-360).

Interestingly, the CD3 single chain monospecific antibody derivativesexhibited functional properties distinct from native antibody. TheCD3Fv-Ig derivative potently induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PLCγ1and increased the assocation of PLCγ1 with pp35/36 in comparison tonative anti-CD3 mAb. This association has been shown to increase as Tcells are maximally stimulated (Kanner, S. B., Deans, J. P., Ledbetter,J. A. (1992a) Regulation of CD3-induced phospholipase C-γ1 (PLCγ1)tyrosine phosphorylation by CD4 and CD45 receptors. Immunology75:441-447; Kanner, S. B., Ledbetter, J. A. (1992b) CD45 regulatesTCR-induced signalling through tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipaseCγ1. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 20:178-184). Additionally, stimulation of Tcells with CD3Fv-Ig resulted in greater overall tyrosine phosphorylationof cellular proteins following activation. It is possible that becausethe molecules are smaller than the native mAb, the binding domain onCD3-ε is more accessible and improves the interaction withTCR/CD3-associated tyrosine kinases.

In animal models and in clinical trials in humans, anti-TCR or anti-CD3mAb have shown enhancement of T cell responses against target cells whencrosslinked to target cell antigens. Heteroconjugated or bispecific mAbdirect the activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes or of lymphocyteactivated killer cells to kill malignant target cells (Staerz et al.,1986a; Perez et al., 1985a; Perez, P., Hoffman, R. W., Titus, J. A.,Segal, D. M. (1986) Specific targeting of human peripheral blood T cellsby heteroaggregates containing anti-T3 crosslinked to anti-target cellantibodies. J. Exp. Med. 163:166-178; Liu et al., 1985a; Staerz et al.,1986b) or virally infected target cells (Paya, C. V., McKean, D. J.,Segal, D. M., Schoon, R. A., Schowalter, S. D., Leibson, P. J. (1989)Heteroconjugate antibodies enhance cell-mediated anti-herpes simplexvirus immunity. J. Immunol. 142:666-671; Zarling, J. M., Moran, P. A.,Grosmaire, L. S., McClure, J., Shriver, K., Ledbetter, J. A. (1988)Lysis of cells infected with HIV-1 by human lymphocytes targeted withmonoclonal antibody heteroconjugates. J. Immunol. 140:2609-2613; Voss,L. M., David, C. S., Showalter, S. D., Paya, C. V., Liebson, P. J.(1992) Heterconjugate antibodies enhance cell-mediated anti-herpessimplex virus immunity in vivo. Int. Immunol. 4:417-420).

Although anti-CD3 mAb can induce potent cytokine toxicity in vivo(Abramowicz, D., Schandene, L., Goldman, M., Crusiaux, A.,Vereerstraeten, P., De Pauw, L., Wybran, J., Kinnaert, P., Dupont, E.,Toussaint, C. (1989) Release of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-2,and gamma interferon in serum after injection of OKT3 monoclonalantibody in kidney transplant recipients. Transplantation 47:606-608),patients treated with bispecific mAb have not developed cytokinetoxicity because their T cells were pretreated with the reagent in vitroand then readministered (Mezzanzanica, D., Canevari, S., Colnaghi, M. I.(1991) Retargeting of human lymphocytes against human ovarian carcinomacells by bispecific antibodies: from laboratory to clinic. Int. J. Clin.Lab. Res. 21:159-164; Nitta, T., Sato, K., Yagita, H., Okumura, K.,Ishii, S. (1990) Preliminary trial of specific targeting therapy againstmalignant glioma. Lancet 335:368-371). In murine models, moleculessmaller than native mAb such as F(ab′)2 fragments show increased tumorlocalization for both monospecific anti-tumor and for bispecificanti-CD3, anti-tumor specificities (van Dijk, J., Zegveld, S. T.,Fleuren, G. J., Warnaar, S. O. (1991) Localization of monoclonalantibody G250 and bispecific monoclonal antibody CD3/G250 in human renalcell carcinoma xenografts: relative effects of size and affinity. Int.J. Cancer 48:738-743; Nelson, H., Ramsey, P. S., Kerr, L. A., McKean, D.J., Donohue, J. H. (1990) Regional and systemic distribution ofanti-tumor x anti-CD3 heteroconjugate antibodies and cultured humanperipheral blood lymphocytes in a human colon cancer xenograft. J.Immunol. 145:3507-3515).

The CD3-L6FvIg molecule may be useful as a novel molecule for mammaliancancer therapy, e.g., human cancer therapy. The molecule containsbinding specificity for both CD3 and the tumor antigen L6, and has beenshown in vitro to induce T cell proliferation in the presence ofL6-positive tumor cells, and to direct CTL killing toward these cells.The two different binding specificities are attached to the hinge, CH2and CH3 domains of human IgG1, initially to serve as a tag forcharacterization and purification of the bispecific molecules. This tagis itself a relatively small domain (about 50 kDa) that retains theoverall smaller size of the tagged bispecific protein to approximatelytwo-thirds the size of native IgG. Since the tag is of human origin, theoverall immunogenicity of the molecule would be expected to besignificantly less than whole murine IgG. Additional modifications couldbe carried out to decrease further the immunogenicity of the bispecificproteins such as humanizing the framework regions and constructing thesolvent-accessible portion of the helical linker to resemble helicesfrom known human proteins. Although the Ig portion served as an affinitytail, it may also increase the half-life of the bispecific protein invivo.

In one report, chimeric mouse anti-colorectal cancer mAb variableregions fused to human IgG1 constant region (Steplewski, Z., Sun, L. K.,Sherman, C. W., Ghrayeb, J., Daddona, P., Koprowski, H. (1988)Biological activity of human-mouse IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 chimericmonoclonal antibodies with antitumor activity. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.USA 85:4852-4856) administered to ten patients with metastatic coloncancer showed a six-fold increase in circulation time (LoBuglio, A. F.,Wheeler, R. H., Trang, J., Haynes, A., Rogers, K., Harvey, E. B., Sun,L., Ghrayeb, J., Khazaeli, M. B. (1989) Mouse/human chimeric monoclonalantibody in man: kinetics and immune response. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.USA 86:4220-4224).

Additionally, the Ig-tail used in our bispecific fusion protein ismutated in the CH2 domain (proline to serine at residue 238). Thismutation ablates ADCC activity mediated by the interaction of the humanIgG1 tail with Fc receptors. This should prevent “reciprocal” killingbetween CD3-positive T cells and Fc-receptor-bearing cell in vivo (Clarket al., 1987a). Finally, although the bispecific molecule is expressedfrom transient transfection of COS cells, the protein may be potentiallyexpressed in a stable transfection system.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION: The subject invention overcomes theproblems associated with current methodologies of antibody production.

To circumvent problems encountered by others in producing a bispecificfusion protein, we adapted an existing COS cell expression system toachieve secretion of functional single chain antibody derivatives fromrecombinant bispecific single chain cassette DNA. Single chainantibodies were constructed by fusing the Fc domain of human IgG1 to thevariable regions for murine antibodies against human antigens (e.g., CD3and L6). The Fc region served as a convenient molecular tag sequence foridentification and purification of fusion proteins with varyingspecificities. Additionally, effector functions conferred by thissegment of the antibody may be useful for certain therapeuticapplications.

Unlike bacterial expression systems where recovery of biologicallyactive molecules is problematic, even for molecules possessing a singlebinding specificity, the present invention provides transient expressionfrom COS cells which yield culture supernatants containing the expressedbiologically active fusion proteins which could then be purified byconventional affinity chromatography. Interestingly, the single chainbispecific fusion protein molecules so produced exhibit properties thatwere distinct from the parent antibodies.

We chose mammalian expression of these bispecific fusion proteinmolecules because the recovery of biologically active molecules frombacterial expression systems is problematic, even for moleculespossessing only a single binding specificity. With mammalian expression,simple, rapid production of antibody derivatives may be achieved whichis important so that characterization, evaluation, and comparisonbetween molecules is possible within a relatively short period of time.

Gene fusions in which individual protein domains are present oninterchangeable recombinant bispecific single chain cassette DNA createthe potential for generating novel combinations, making rapid exchanges,and screening different domains for their efficacy in performing adesired function. Expression of the constructs in a transienttransfection system is preferable to other methods of production for theinitial recombination and screening steps. Only those moleculesexhibiting the desired subset of characteristics from this screeningwould require shuttling into a secondary expression system for largescale production, eliminating lengthy or complicated production andisolation procedures for the majority of molecules generated.

We set out to develop a system for rapid construction, expression, andanalysis of antibody binding sites assembled into larger molecules asrecombinant bispecific single chain DNA cassettes having interchangeableDNA cassettes, i.e. DNA cassettes encoding single chain variable regionsor other binding domains that can be exchanged for another. Thesequences of the first and second binding domains are replaceable orinterchangable. Different sequences may replace existing ones.

Unlike previously-described constructs, the bispecific single chaincassettes are versatile since any variable regions may be placed in anyor both of the first or second binding domains.

By constructing novel combinations of antibody structural domains, forexample molecules which couple two unrelated binding specificities andthe desired effector functions might be produced which exhibit improvedtherapeutic potential. Such bispecific single chain antibody derivativesserve as adaptor molecules for two non-interacting cell surfacereceptors to create an artificial receptor-ligand pair.

The data herein suggest that the bispecific fusion protein molecules soexpressed from a recombinant bispecific single chain DNA cassette may becapable of targeting a cytotoxic response by T cells against humantumors expressing L6 in vivo as well as in vitro, without the need forextensive tissue, culture manipulations or purification away frompotentially toxic monospecific antibodies against CD3.

Single chain antibody derivatives which couple the specificities fortumor cell binding and T cell binding and activation provide asignificant improvement over single monoclonal antibody based therapiesfor human disease. The approach described here for the design,construction, expression, and testing of gene fusions is a versatile onewhich offers significant advantages in rapidity, simplicity, andreproducibility for testing novel combinations between the functionaldomains of unrelated molecules for their ability to function togetherwithin a single molecule in the desired manner.

This invention is illustrated in the Example which follows. This sectionis set forth to aid in understanding the invention but is not intendedto, and should not be construed to, limit in any way the invention asset forth in the claims which follow.

EXAMPLE 1

Materials and Methods

Modification of Expression Vectors: The plasmids pCDM8 and piLNXAn weremodified by replacing the stuffer fragment with several smaller stufferfragments, each of which confers some functional property to theresulting fusion protein.

The mammalian expression vector is diagrammed with the alterations andadditions made shown along the top portion of the vector. Expression offusion cassettes is driven by the CMV promoter, and replication inbacteria and mammalian cells is achieved by the appropriate originsindicated at the bottom of the vector. The vector contains the supF geneto suppress nonsense mutations in the ampicillin and tetracycline genespresent in the p3 plasmid in the appropriate host bacterial strains. Thetermination and poly A addition signals are provided by the appropriateregions from SV40.

The HindIII site at the 5′ end of the stuffer region was used to inserta HindIII-Sal I cassette containing a leader sequence for secretion offusion proteins obtained from the light chain variable regions of theanti-L6 antibody (also referred to herein as anti-L6) (FIG. 1). Thissequence was encoded on complementary 72-mer oligonucleotides withHindIII and SalI cohesive end overhangs. The sense oligonucleotide usedwas L6VL-LP5/AGC TTA TGG ATT TTC AAG TGC AGA TTT TCA GCT TCC TGC TAA TCAGTG CTT CAG TCA TAA TGT CCA GAG GAG (SEQ. ID NO: 1) while thecomplementary oligonucleotide was L6VL-LP3/TCG ACT CCT CTG GAC ATT ATGACT GAA GCA CTG ATT AGC AGG AAG CTG AAA ATC TGC ACT TGA AAA TCC ATA (SEQID NO: 2). The sense oligonucleotide was phosphorylated withpolynucleotide kinase (Boehringer-Mannheim, Indianapolis, Ind.) andannealed to the complement prior to ligation according to previouslypublished procedures (Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E. F., Maniatis, T. (1989)Molecular cloning—a laboratory manual, second edition. ISBN0-87969-309-6). Only one of the oligonucleotides was kinased to preventmultiple tandem insertions.

In addition, the XbaI site at the 3′ end of the stuffer fragment wasused to insert a molecular tag or a simple stop codon flanked by BclIand XbaI restriction sites at the carboxyl terminus (FIG. 1). Themolecular tags tested included an Fc fragment from human IgG1, a humanimmunodeficiency virus (HIV) peptide from the V3 loop of gp110, a FLAGpeptide, and the constant region domain of human C-kappa. The human IgG1sequences were isolated from the RNA of the chimeric L6 transfectoma bycoupled reverse transcription (Avian myeloblastosis virus; LifeSciences, St. Petersburg, Fla.) and/or PCR reactions from the RNA of amyeloma expressing human-mouse chimeric L6. Several different mutantderivatives of the Fc domain were constructed from PCR reactions usingforward primers containing the appropriate mutations in either the hingeor the CH2 region.

The modified expression vectors were tested by insertion and expressionof the variable regions for two different antibody bindingspecificities, the human L6 tumor antigen and human CD3-ε. The singlechain antibody derivatives bound antigen with varying avidities andaffinities, depending on the molecular tag to which they were fused. TheFc domain of human IgG1 was the most successful tag at reproducing thebinding characteristics of the native antibody, despite the absence ofCH1 and Cκ domains. Several other tags were constructed and tested, butthe Cκ (Traunecker, A., Lanzavecchia, A. M., Karjalainen, K. (1991)Bispecific single chain molecules (Janusins) target cytotoxiclymphocytes on HIV infected cells. EMBO J. 10: 3655-3659) and FLAGpeptides both failed to function reliably. The peptideRKSIRIQRGPGRAFVTIGKI (SEQ ID NO: 3) from the V3 loop of gp110encoded byhuman immunodeficiency virus was also used as an affinity tail,recognized by the peptide-specific mAb 110.3. This tag gave variableresults depending on the Fv to which it was fused, failing to functionproperly when fused to L6, but performing successfully when fused toCD3.

The peptide 29 (RKSIRIQRGPGRAFVTIGKI) (SEQ ID NO: 3) corresponds to asegment of the V3 loop of gp 110 from HIV (HIV peptide). A molecular tagwas created by annealing two complementary 76-mer oligonucleotides withcohesive end overhangs, The sense oligonucleotide included a Bcl Ioverhang, the V3 loop sequences, and a stop codon HIVSTOP5 GA TCA AGATCC GCG GAA ATC GAT TAG AAT CCA GAG AGG CCC TGG GCG CGC CTT CGT TAC GATCGG CAA GAT CTA GT (SEQ ID NO: 4), while the complementary primercontained the Xbal overhang HIVSTOP3/CTA GAC TAG ATC TTG CCG ATC GTA ACGAAG GCG CGC CCA GGG CCT CTC TGG ATT CTA ATC GAT TTC CGC GGA TCT T (SEQID NO: 5). The sense oligonucleotide was phosphorylated and annealed tothe unphosphorylated reverse primer prior to ligation into Bcll-Xbaldigested vector as described above.

We tested whether the FLAG peptide marketed by IBI for use as anamino-terminal tag would still work when placed at the carboxyl end ofthe tagged protein. Complementary oligonucleotides were designedcontaining the following 51-mer sequences: FLAGS/GAT CAA GAC TAC AAG GACGAC GAT GAC AAG TGA GCG GCC GCG AAT TCG TCT (SEQ ID NO:6) and FLAG3/CTAGAG ACG AAT TCG CGG CCG CTC ACT TGT CAT CGT CGT CCT TGT AGT CTT (SEQ IDNO:7). These sequences were kinased, annealed, and ligated into thevector distal to the antibody binding domain. The human C-kappasequences were obtained by reverse transcription and PCR from thechimeric L6 RNA as described previously. The forward primer forisolation of C-kappa was L6CK5BCL/GGT GCT CTG ATC ACT GTG GCT GCA CCATCT GTC TTC ATC (SEQ ID NO:8), and the reverse primer was L6CK3XBA/CCTCCT CAT TCT AGA CTA ACA CTC TCC CCT GTT GAA GCT (SEQ ID NO:9).

The helical peptide linker used to make a recombinant bispecific singlechain cassette DNA between the CD3 and L6 binding domains was encoded oncomplementary 78-mer oligonucleotides with GATC cohesive end overhangs.The sense oligonucleotide is Fvlink1/GAT CAA TCC AAC TCT GAA GAA GCA AAGAAA GAG GAG GCC AAA AAG GAG GAA GCC AAG AAT CTA ACA GCC TCG AGA GC (SEQID NO:10), and the antisense oligonucleotide is Fvlink2/GAT CGC TCT CGAGGC TGT TAG ATT TCT TGG CTT CCT CCT TTT TGG CCT CCT CTT TCT TTG CTT CTTCAG AGT TGG ATT (SEQ ID NO:11). The peptide encoded is hydrophilic withan abundance of charged amino acids (DQSNSEEAKKEEAKKEEAKKSNSLESL) (SEQID NO:12) to increase the solubility of the molecule. The Sequence motif(EEAKK)_(n) (SEQ ID NO:35), is particularly hydrophilic due to anabundance of charged amino acids.

PCR reactions (in a 100 μl total reaction volume) were run in Taqpolymerase buffer (Stratagene, Torrey Pines, Calif. orBoehringer-Mannheim), with 20 μmol each dNTP, 50-100 pmol primers, 1-10ng template, and Taq polymerase (Stratagene or Boehringer-Mannheim).Reactions were performed using a Perkin-Elmer Cetus Thermal Cycler witha 30-cycle program, typically consisting of steps of 1 minute at 94° C.,1 minute at 55° C., and 1 minute at 72° C. Ligation products weretransformed into MC1061/p3 and colonies were screened for theappropriate insertion plasmids. Positive clones were verified by DNAsequencing and mini-transfection.

Isolation of V regions: RNA from the chimeric L6 transfectoma wasisolated using the rapid NP-40 lysis technique and full-length DNA forboth heavy and light chain were amplified by using primers identical tothe published sequences for L6 and human constant regions (Hieter, P.S., Maz, E. E., Seidman, J. G., Maizel, J. V. Jr., Leder, P. (1980)Cloned human and mouse kappa immunoglobulin constant and J region genesconserve homology in functional segments. Cell 22:197-207; Liu et al.(1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:3438-3442) but with restrictionsites attached for cloning. These full-length cDNAs were used astemplate for secondary PCR reactions to subclone variable regions. Inone example, subfragments from the variable regions were cloned by PCRfrom cDNA templates generated with random hexamers rather than specificprimers.

RNA from G19-4 cells was extracted using the rapid NP-40 lysistechnique. The V_(L) and V_(H) sequences of the anti-CD3 hybridoma G19-4were amplified by using established PCR methods (Orlandi, R., Gussow, D.H., Jones, P. T., Winter, G. (1989) Cloning immunoglobulin variableregions for expression by the Polymerase Chain Reaction. Proc. Nat.Acad. Sci. 86:3833-3837). First strand cDNA synthesis was performedusing AMV reverse transcriptase (Life Sciences) and primerscomplementary to the constant regions of the heavy or light chains.First strand cDNA products were tailed with poly-G using terminaltransferase (Stratagene, Torrey Pines, Calif.). PCR was then performedusing 100 pmol of each primer and 1-2 μl purified G-tailed cDNAgene-cleaned cDNA from the first strand synthesis. The ANCTAIL forwardprimer contained nonsense DNA and poly-C sequences complementary to theanchor sequence, the ANC-ER forward primer contained an EcoRI site andnonsense sequences upstream of the anchor site, and the MHγC and MCK-3reverse primers contained sequences internal to the first-strand primer,complementary to the constant regions of the heavy and light chains,respectively. Primer sequences were as follows:

ANCTAIL: 5′-GCATGTGCAAGTCCGATGAGTCCCCCCCCCCCCCC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:13),

ANC-ER: 5′-ACGTCGAGAATTCGCATGTGCAAGTCCGATGAGTCC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:14),

MHγC: 5′-A(TC)CTCCACACACAGG(AG) (AG) CCAGTGGATAGAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:15),

MCK-1: 5′-CTTCCACTTGACATTGATGTCTTTG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:16),

MCK-3: 5′-CAAGAAGCACACGACTGAGGCA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:17).

Immunostaining and FACS Analysis: Jurkat cells, peripheral bloodlymphocytes, and/or L6 positive tumor cells (H2981 or H3639) wereanalyzed by indirect immunostaining. Before staining, H2981 cells weredetached from flasks by incubation in trypsin-EDTA (GIBCO-BRL). Cellswere incubated with single chain antibody or native parent antibody atvarious concentrations in binding buffer (GIBCO-BRL), for 40 minutes at4° C. Cells were washed after the first step and incubated with aFITC-conjugated second step reagent for an additional 30-40 minutes at4° C. Second step antibody was one of the following: goat anti-mouse Igfor murine mAbs, goat anti-human IgG for single Ig fusions (Tago, Inc.,Burlingame, Calif.), FITC-110.3 directed against the V3 loop of gp110for HIV peptide fusions, and FITC-α idiotype (1B) against the L6antibody for all types of L6 containing constructs. Fluorescence wasanalyzed on a FACS IV cell sorter (Becton Dickenson and Co., MountainView, Calif.) equipped with a four decade logarithmic amplifier.

Competition assays were performed by mixing the two antibodies togetherat varying ratios to total 10 μg/ml antibody prior to addition of cells.One of the two antibodies was labelled with FITC, usually chimeric ormurine L6, or native G19-4. For inhibition assays, the first antibodywas added 30 minutes prior to addition of the second FITC-conjugatedantibody.

Cell Culture, Transfections, and Purification of Fusion Proteins: COScells were transfected with expression plasmids as previously described(Linsley, P. S., Brady, W., Grosmaire, L., Aruffo, A., Damle, N. K.,Ledbetter, J. A. (1991) Binding of the B cell activation antigen B7 toCD28 costimulates T cell proliferation and interleukin 2 MRNAaccumulation. J. Exp Med. 173:721-730; Aruffo and Seed, 1987a). PlasmidDNA was added to transfection media at 1 μg/ml in a total volume of 12ml/150 mm plate. Spent serum free culture media from three collectionsof transfected COS cells was pooled and used for purifying fusionproteins containing Ig, HIV, or STOP molecular tags. Cellular debris wasremoved by low-speed centrifugation and supernatants were sometimesfiltered through 0.2 μm filters prior to purification. Media from Igfusion transfections was applied to a column of immobilized protein A(Repligen Corp., Cambridge, Mass.) equilibrated with 0.05 M sodiumcitrate, pH 8.0 (Linsley et al., 1991a). For 500 ml of supernatant, 1 mlof packed bed volume protein A was used. After two applications ofmedia, the column was washed with 100 mM potassium phosphate, pH 8.0,and bound protein was eluted with 0.05 M sodium citrate, pH3. Fractionswere. collected into tubes containing 1/5 volume 1 M Tris pH 8.0.Fractions containing the peak of A₂₃₀ absorbing material were pooled anddialyzed against PBS before use. Protein concentration was determinedusing the BioRad protein assay kit based on the Lowry technique.

For fusion proteins containing other molecular tags, affinity columnswere made by immobilizing appropriate antibodies (either anti-L6idiotype mAb 13B or anti-HIV mAb 110.3 directed against the V3 loop ofgp 110) using CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B according to the instructionsfrom Pharmacia. The affinity matrices contained approximately 5 mg mAbper ml of bed volume and the typical column size was 1×5 cm (4 ml).Samples were adjusted to pH7 and applied to the appropriateimmunoaffinity column that had been previously washed with 0.1 M citricacid, pH 2.2 and equilibrated in PBS, pH 7.2. The column was washedthoroughly with PBS and the bound material was eluted with 0.1 M citratepH 3.0, followed by immediate neutralization with Tris. Purifiedantibody derivative was finally dialyzed into PBS and sterile filtered.

Cell Adhesion Assays: Adhesion assays were performed essentially asdescribed (Linsley, P. S., Clark, E. A., Ledbetter, J. A. (1990) T-cellantigen CD28 mediates adhesion with B cells by interacting withactivation antigen B7/BB1. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:5031-5035), inthe presence of 10 mM EDTA. Jurkat cells were first labeled with ⁵¹Crand incubated with antibody stimuli, washed, and incubated with H2981tumor cells and were examined microscopically. To prevent nonspecificbinding to H2981 cells, the Jurkats and H2981 monolayers were incubatedwith an irrelevant antibody to saturate Fc receptors prior to additionof the CD3Ig (also referred to herein as CD3FvIg), L6Ig (also referredto herein as L6FvIg), or CD3-L6Ig (also referred to herein asCD3-L6FvIg) antibody derivatives. After the adhesion reactions werecomplete, monolayers were washed five times with ice-cold RPMI media,solubilized by addition of 0.5 M NaOH, and radioactivity measured in agamma counter. Numbers of bound cells were calculated by dividing totalbound radioactivity (cpm) by the specific activity (cpm per cell) oflabeled cells (FIG. 6).

In FIG. 6, monolayers of H2981 tumor cells were plated at a density of10⁵ cells/well in 48 well plates, fixed in 0.1% paraformaldehyde for 20min at 23° C., washed, blocked in complete RPMI+10% FBS, andpreincubated alone or with the antibody indicated for 1 h at 37° C. Aheteroconjugate of anti-CD3 (G19-4) and anti-L6 mAb was used as apositive control. All antibodies were used at 20 μg/ml except whereindicated. Jurkat cells were labelled with 51Cr, preincubated in 10 mMEDTA, and added to the tumor cells and antibodies. Adhesion wasinitiated by spinning the plates at 1000 rpm for 2 min. Reactions wereincubated 45 min at 37° C., washed five times in ice cold RPMI, andlysed in 0.5 N Na OH. Counts released were determined by gamma counting.Data represent the number of cells bound (×10³). Mean and standarddeviation (error bars) of three replicate determinations are shown.

SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting: Acrylamide gels forming a linear 6-15%gradient with a 4% stacker were run at 225 Volts for 3 hours orovernight at 8 mAmp. Gels were immunoblotted to nitrocellulose membranesusing a Western Semi-dry transfer apparatus (Ellard Instruments,Seattle, Wash.) at 130 mAmp for 1 hour. Blots were blocked with 1%nonfat milk, 0.05% NP-40 in PBS (BLOTTO, i.e., blocking buffer) for 1-2hours. The first antibody incubation was performed withalkaline-phosphatase conjugated goat anti-human IgG(Boehringer-Mannheim) at a 1:1500 dilution in BLOTTO, or with theappropriate dilution of unconjugated murine or chimeric antibody oranti-idiotypic antibody for detection of non-Ig fusions, i.e., Sf_(v)lacking Ig tags. In any case, blots were washed three times in BLOTTOand incubated with alkaline phosphatase conjugated goat anti mouse oranti human IgG if a second step was required. Blots were developed inWestern Blue (Promega, Madison, Wis.) for 5-15 minutes, and the reactionstopped in distilled water.

Immunoprecipitation and western blotting with anti-p-tyr: Jurkat T cellswere unstimulated (0) or stimulated with native G19-4 Mab (Ledbetter, J.A., Norris, N. A., Grossmann, A., Grosmaire, L. S., June, C. H., Ucklin,F. M., Cosand, W. L., Rabinovitch P. S. (1989) Enhanced transmembranesignalling activity of monoclonal antibody heteroconjugates suggestmolecular interactions between receptors on the T cell surface. Mol.Immunol. 26:137-145) or with CD3Fv-Ig at the concentrations indicated,and were lysed in modified RIPA buffer (Kanner, S. B., Reynolds, A. B.,Parsons, J. T. (1989)

Immunoaffinity purification of tyrosine-phosphorylated cellularproteins. J. Immunol. Methods 120:115-124) containing phosphatase andprotease inhibitors (1 mM sodium orthovanadate, 1 mM PMSF, 2 mM EGTA,0.5% aprotinin and 10 μg/ml leupeptin). Cell lysates were cleared (10min at 14000 rpm) and immunoprecipitated with either rabbit anti-p-tyror PLCγ1 antiserum. Immune complexes were recovered with proteinA-Sepharose beads (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.) and washed. The proteinswere separated by SDS-PAGE (8%) and were transferred to PVDF Immobilon(Millipore, Bedford, Mass.) for 2 hours at 4° C. The immunoblots wereblocked before addition of 0.5 μg/ml of affinity purified rabbitanti-p-tyr in blocking buffer. Proteins were detected with 1 μCi/ml highspecific activity ¹²⁵′-labelled protein A (ICN Biomedicals, Costa Mesa,Calif.) and autoradiography.

Proliferation Assays: Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated bydilution and centrifugation through lymphocyte separation media (OrganonTeknika, Durham, N.C.). Lymphocytes were washed several times in serumfree RPMI 1640, and cell concentration adjusted to 10⁶ cells/ml in RPMIcontaining 10% FCS. Cells were cultured in 96-well, flat bottom plates(5×10⁴ cells/well in a volume of 0.2 ml). Proliferation was measured ontriplicate samples by uptake of [³H] thymidine at 1 μCi/ml during thelast 6-8 hours of a three day culture. PHA activated T cells wereprepared by culturing PBL with 1 μg/ml PHA (Wellcome, Charlotte, N.C.)for 5 days, and resting one day in media lacking PHA.

H2981 tumor cells were irradiated at 10,000 rads prior to use inproliferation assays. Cells were either prebound to fusion proteins andwashed before incubating with PBL (“prebound” samples) or were includedwith fusion proteins in solution (“solution samples”) during the threeday culture. Washing of the prebound samples removes unbound protein sothat only protein bound to the tumor cells contributes to thestimulation of PBL during the assay. PBL were titrated with respect toirradiated cells as follows: (2:1), 5:1, 125:1, (625:1), where the firstnumber refers to the relative number of PBL present (5×104 cells/well)compared to decreasing numbers of tumor cells.

Cytotoxicity Assays: H2981 tumor cells were incubated with [⁵¹Cr] fortwo hours prior to incubation with fusion protein (0.1 μg/ml to 10μg/ml) and PBL (at several effector: target ratios ranging from 10:1 to100:1). Cells were cultured in RPMI containing 10% FCS in a total volumeof 0.2 ml for five hours prior to counting. Chromium release wasquantified on a gamma counter to measure cytotoxicity targeted againstthe tumor cells.

COS cells are capable of expressing antibodies from recombinantbispecific single chain cassette DNA: We set out to develop a system fortransient mammalian expression of antibody molecules to facilitate theirrapid detection, purification, and characterization. It was importantthat the system be versatile enough to accommodate molecules of varyingspecificities and exchanges of domains to simplify the generation,testing, and comparison between different single chain bispecificantibodies. A COS cell transient expression system has been usedsuccessfully by previous workers to express soluble cell surfacereceptors by creating fusion proteins between the extracellular domainof the surface receptor and the heavy chain of human immunoglobulin IgG1(Aruffo and Seed, 1987b; Linsley et al., 1991b).

This system was chosen as an attractive alternative to bacterialexpression systems because the molecules are secreted and could beeasily recovered in active form from culture supernatants. Initialexperiments examined whether a COS cell transient expression systemmight be capable of expressing and secreting functional intact IgGmolecules using cDNA rather than genomic sequences. Full length kappaand gamma cDNA cassettes encoding anti-tumor antigen L6 specificity wereligated to pCDM8 and the insertion vectors cotransfected into COS cellsby the DEAE-Dextran procedure. Culture supernatants were found tocontain protein levels ranging from 100-500 ng/ml with binding activityfor L6 positive tumor cells, indicating that COS cells were capable ofassembling and secreting native antibody from recombinant bispecificsingle chain cassette DNA.

Adaptation of mammalian expression vectors: Once the ability of COScells to express such molecules was verified, we modified the expressionvectors pCDM8 and piLNXAn to express single chain antibody moleculesusing interchangeable cassettes encoding individual protein domains. Thevectors pCDM8 and piLNX use either the cytomegalovirus or the AMVpromoter and enhancer to achieve expression of genes inserted into thepolylinker/stuffer region located downstream of the control regions.This region was altered to contain two short cDNA cassettes flanking thevariable region insertion site in the polylinker. FIG. 1 diagrams thevector modifications and is a schematic view of the vector modificationsand the configuration of variable regions for expressed single chainmolecules. A HindIII-SaII fragment containing the leader peptide fromthe L6 kappa light chain variable region was inserted at the 5′ end ofthe polylinker to achieve secretion of the molecules fused to it. ABcll-Xbal fragment encoding the hinge, CH2, and CH3 domains of humanIgG1, i.e., a molecular tag, was fused in frame at the 3′ end of thepolylinker to facilitate detection and purification of molecules withvarious specificities. Single chain antibody cassette DNA encoding thevariable regions of the heavy and light chains were connected to oneanother by a short peptide linker and inserted as SaII-BcII fragments(other compatible ends were sometimes used) between these two shortflanking cassettes so that a single open reading frame was formed. Wehave thereby adapted existing mammalian expression vectors to achieveefficient expression of CDNA cassettes encoding single chain antibodymolecules (SCA) of any specificity. The system permits the rapidexpression, purification, screening, and alteration of fusion proteinsso that cassettes encoding different molecular tags, linkers, andbinding specificities may be compared for their relative effectivenessin expression of functional soluble molecules.

Construction and expression of single chain monospecific L6F_(v)-Ig, CD3F_(v)-Ig, and bispecific CD3-L6Ig antibody derivatives: Two differentbinding specificities were used as models to test the adapted singlechain antibody expression system. The variable regions for the heavy andlight chains of antibodies directed against the L6 tumor antigen and theCD3 T cell surface receptor were isolated as described in Materials andMethods.

The variable regions of anti-L6 or G19-4 were fused into a single codingregion by using overlap extension PCR to create a (Gly₄Ser)₃ linkerbetween the carboxyl end of V_(L) and the amino terminus of V_(H).

FIG. 2A displays the single open reading frame created by fusion of thelight and heavy chain variable region sequences for the G19-4 antibodywith the (Gly₄Ser)₃ linker.

cDNA constructs encoding the leader peptide from the L6 light chainvariable region (stippled region), CD3-L6 antigen binding domains(unshaded region), and human IgG1 Fc domain (shaded region) wereconstructed as described in Materials and Methods (FIG. 2A).

In FIG. 2A the mammalian expression vector pCDM8 was modified by removalof the stuffer fragment and replacement with adaptor sequences forexpression of single chain antibody molecules. A HindIII-SalI fragmentencoding the leader peptide from the light chain variable region ofanti-L6 was inserted to achieve secretion of the expressed molecules.The Fc domain of human IgG1 was included downstream as a BclI-XbaIsegment to facilitate detection, purification, and characterization offusion constructs. A smaller molecular tag sequence encoding a portionof the V3 loop of gp110 from HIV was also used for the CD3 constructs.Between the leader sequence and the tag, a fusion cassette between V_(L)and V_(H) was inserted, with the two domains separated by a (Gly₄Ser)₃amino acid linker.

Bispecific molecules could be constructed by inserting a secondV_(L)−V_(H) cassette at the BclI site between the first cassette and theFc domain. The two binding specificities were separated from one anotherby an oligonucleotide encoding a 27 amino acid helical peptide linker toprevent steric hindrance and improve solubility.

Sequences displayed show the junctions between each domain, with aminoacids introduced during construction indicated in bold face type.

The variable region fusion cassettes were inserted into the modifiedexpression vector to create the gene fusions diagrammed in FIG. 2A andtransfected into COS cells. Serum free spent medium was collected, andproteins purified by protein A affinity chromatography. Western blots ofproteins subjected to reducing or nonreducing SDS-PAGE were probed withalkaline-phosphatase conjugated goat anti-human IgG as shown in FIG. 2B.Panels A and B illustrate that the L6Fv-Ig and CD3Fv-Ig fusion proteinsmigrated as a single species of M_(r) 55,000 under both reducing andnonreducing conditions, the approximate size expected for these singlechain antibody derivatives. Similarly, the CD3-L6FvIg bispecificmolecule migrated as a single species of M_(r)˜94,000 under either ofthese conditions. By comparison, chimeric L6 mAb or L6 wild-type dimer(WTD) consisting of mouse variable regions fused to wild-type sequencesfor human hinge-CH2-CH3, exhibited significant mobility differencesdepending on reduction and on the degree of denaturation, indicatingthat the heavy chain constant regions of these molecules associated bydisulfide bonding to form dimers. Occasionally, western blots fromnonreducing SDS-PAGE exhibited a very faint band for the monospecificmolecules migrating at M_(r)>100,000 or for the bispecific moleculemigrating at M_(r)>200,000.

The V_(L)−V_(H) fusion cassette was inserted into the adapted vector sothat a single open reading frame was created including the anti-L6 lightchain signal peptide, the variable region fusion encoding the antibodybinding specificity, and the human IgG1 Fc domain. The CD3-L6 bispecificfusion cassette was created by fusing the CD3 and L6 fusion cassettesvia a short helical peptide linker, and inserted as for the monospecificconstructs. The molecular tag utilized in initial tests of theexpression system was a mutant derivative of human Fc in which the hingedisulfides were changed to serines to reduce or eliminate intrachaindisulfide bonding. These single chain constructs were transfectedindividually into COS cells and the fusion proteins purified fromculture supernatants by affinity chromatography on immobilized proteinA.

Yields of purified protein were typically about 2 mg/liter for the L6Igfusion protein, about 10 mg/liter for CD3Ig, and about 0.5 mg/liter forthe CD3-L6Ig bispecific molecule. Western blots of proteins subjected tononreducing SDS-PAGE and probed with alkaline-phosphatase conjugatedgoat anti-human IgG are shown in FIG. 2B. A single species is visible inthe CD3Ig and L6Ig lanes migrating at Mr 55,000, the approximate sizeexpected for these single chain antibody derivatives, but not in thenegative control lane (FIG. 2B) The CD3-L6Ig bispecific moleculemigrates at about Mr-95,000-98,000, with a higher molecular weight bandvisible at Mr>200,000 (FIG. 2B).

Binding activities of L6Ig, CD3Ig, and CD3-L6Ig fusion proteins: Toinvestigate the functional activities of our single chain antibodyderivatives and verify that the molecules were capable of antigenspecific binding, we first tested binding of the Fc domain fusionproteins to cells expressing target antigen. The human tumor cell lineH2981 expresses high levels of L6 target antigen but not CD3 or BR96,while the H3396 human tumor cell line expresses high levels of BR96, butnot L6 or CD3, and the human Jurkat cell line expresses CD3, but not L6or BR96. Binding was detected by fluorescence activated cell sorteranalysis using FITC-conjugated goat anti-human Ig as second stepreagent. As shown in FIG. 3, the fusion proteins bind specifically tocells expressing target antigen similar to the parent native antibody(i.e., native anti-L6 and G19-4 antibodies), but fail to bind to cellswhich lack detectable levels of the antigen. The CD3-L6Ig bispecificfusion protein bound to both Jurkat and H2981 cells, an indirectindication that the molecules possess more than one specificity. Similarresults were observed whether detection was achieved using goatanti-human IgG or a FITC-conjugated anti-idiotypic antibody directedagainst the L6 binding specificity.

Antibody derivatives at 10 μg/ml were incubated with H2981 tumor cells(L6 positive), Jurkat cells (CD3 positive), or H3396 tumor cells (BR96positive) (FIG. 3). The cells were washed and incubated withFITC-conjugated goat anti-human IgG as second step reagent. A total of10,000 stained cells was then analyzed by FACS (FIG. 3). FIG. 3 showsthat L6Ig, CD3Ig, and CD3-L6 Ig bind to cells expressing target antigen.

In order to explore the biological properties of the fusion proteins, wechose different functional assays based on the expected or desiredproperties of each individual molecule. The results for each singlechain molecule will therefore be presented separately beginning with theL6Ig single chain antibody derivatives.

Effects of variations in the molecular tag sequence on the bindingactivities of L6 fusion proteins: Several different molecular tagsequences were constructed as described in Materials and Methods andfused to the L6 binding domain to determine whether expressed fusionconstructs could be detected and purified using these regions as bindingtargets for protein A or specific antibodies targeted against them. TheC-kappa, HIV peptide, and FLAG peptide all failed to function asreliable molecular tags when fused directly to the L6 binding domain.All three of these peptides resulted in a failure of the transfectedcells to express recognizable L6. Even when detection did not depend onthe molecular tag but utilized the L6 anti-idiotype antibodies, nofunctional fusion protein was detectable in binding assays to H2981tumor cells.

Effects of variation in the Fc domain on effector functions by L6derivatives: Other L6 derivatives were constructed, including a simplesFv of the L6 binding domains with no molecular tag (sFv) and several-Ig fusions attached to different Fc domain mutants. Each Fc constructwas given a designation based on the mutations introduced into the hingeand/or the CH2 domain, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The wild typedimer (WTD) is wild type for all Fc domain sequences, identical tonative antibody for amino acid residues in this region. The monomerconstructs contain sequence changes, i.e. cysteine residues, whichmutate the hinge disulfides to serines (HS1). Monomer mutant 1 (alsoknown as mut1) (HS2) contains a proline to serine change at residue 238in the CH2 domain, a region important in mediating IgG1 effectorfunctions. Monomer mut2 (HS3) is mutated for several residues (234-238)in this region of CH2. Dimer mut1 (DM1) contains wildtype sequences inthe hinge region of the Fc domain, but is also mutant for CH2 sequencesencoding residues 234-238.

The Sfv for L6 contains a STOP codon after the L6 V_(L)−V_(H) fusioncassette rather than any other molecular tag peptide sequences. Each ofthese molecules was constructed, transfected into COS cells, andexpressed proteins purified either over protein A sepharose or animmobilized L6 anti-idiotype antibody column. Fusion proteins werecompared to native chimeric L6 antibody and Fab′ derivatives insaturation and inhibition binding analyses (FIGS. 4C-D). The L6 Fcmutants generated saturation curves very similar to those of nativeantibody (FIG. 4C), while the Sfv fusion protein bound poorly (FIG. 4B).Inhibition studies were performed by incubating increasing amounts ofthe test antibody with tumor cells prior to addition of FITC conjugatedchimeric L6. Again we observed similar curves for all the -Ig fusionsand chimeric antibody (FIG. 4D), with the Sfv and the Fab′ exhibitingreduced ability to inhibit binding of native antibody (FIG. 4C). Despitethe failure to compete with or inhibit the binding of native antibody,the Sfv fusion protein performed slightly better than the chemicallyprepared L6 Fab molecule in this experiment.

The relative abilities of these molecules to mediate the effectorfunctions associated with human IgG1 was measured by antibody dependentcellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) or complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC)assays, and specific lysis plotted as a function of antibodyconcentration. While none of the mutants defective in the hinge regionwere affected in their ability to mediate ADCC, all of the CH2 domainmutants failed to mediate this process. Surprisingly, we discovered thatalthough chimeric L6 mediated CDC very well, none of the L6 derivativeswere capable of stimulating complement mediated lysis of the tumortargets.

Variable region(s) from the murine antibody directed against the humantumor antigen L6 were fused to several derivatives of the Fc domain fromhuman IgG1 expressed in COS cells, and fusion proteins purified byaffinity chromatography (FIGS. 10A-D).

Each Fc domain constructed is indicated with sequence changes indicatedby underlined amino acids (FIGS. 10A-D). Purified protein from eachconstruct was compared to chimeric L6 in saturation and inhibitionassays. In addition, the ability of these molecules to mediate normalIgG1 effector functions such as ADCC and CDC were measured by labellingH2981 tumor cells for 2 hours with 51Cr, washing, and adding them toIMDM+10% FCS containing 10-fold serial dilutions of antibody, and eitherhuman PBL (ADCC) or rabbit complement (CDC). Assays were incubated for4.5 hours, spun, and released counts measured with a gamma counter.Values represent the means of triplicate cultures (SEM<10%).

CD3 single chain antibodies exhibit biological activities qualitativelysimilar to but quantitatively distinct from native antibody: Severaldifferent CD3 fusion proteins were constructed, including an -Ig fusion,an -HIV peptide fusion protein, a V_(L)−V_(H) sFv (no tag), and theCD3-L6 Fv-Ig bispecific molecule.

The HIV peptide served as a reliable molecular tag when fused to CD3. Itpermitted detection and purification of CD3 single chain fusionproteins. The tagged molecules were purified by affinity chromatographyusing immobilized protein A (-Ig fusions) or 110.3 antibody (HIVfusions). The simple Sfv was used as a filtered supernatant solution,and approximate concentrations were estimated by titrating thesupernatant's ability to inhibit binding of G19-4 antibody to Jurkatcells. We wished to investigate the cellular responses generated by thebinding of these altered molecules to the CD3 T cell receptor complex.Each molecule was bound to indo-1 loaded peripheral blood lymphocytes orT cells and mobilization of intracellular calcium monitored by flowcytometry. As shown in FIGS. 5A-D, transmembrane signalling activity wasincreased for both the Ig and HIV fusion proteins when compared toequivalent concentrations of native G19-4 antibody. Although the simpleStv generated a calcium signal, it was not as intense or prolonged asthat observed for native antibody.

The sequences of the anti-CD3 variable regions are shown in FIG. 11,including the junction sequences for the mono- and bispecificderivatives. The Ig fusion proteins were purified by affinitychromatography using immobilized protein A and the Sfv was used asfiltered supernatant. The concentration of Sfv was estimated bytitrating the ability of the transfection supernatant to block thebinding of known concentrations of parent G19-4 Mab to Jurkat cells. Toanalyze the signaling activity of the CD3Fv-Ig molecule, it was testedfor its ability to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of PLCγ1. Jurkat Tcells were stimulated with the CD3Fv-Ig or native G19-4 Mab and proteinsfrom the cell lysates were separated by SDS-PAGE, transferred to PDVFmembrane, and probed with either anti-p-tyr or anti-PLCγ1. Surprisingly,we found that the CD3Fv-Ig induced strong tyrosine phosphorylation ofcellular proteins in whole cell lysates including PLCγ1 and that agreater amount of pp35/36 phosphoprotein was associating with PLCγ1(FIGS. 12A-B). Moreover, both the CD3 Fv-Ig and the CD3 Sfv proteinsinduced calcium fluxes in PBL that were greater in magnitude than thoseobserved for equivalent concentrations of native G19-4 Mab.

In FIG. 11, the variable regions from the heavy and light chains ofanti-CD3 Mab G19-4 were cloned by PCR. The nucleotide and proteinsequence of the gene fusion constructed from these CDNA cassettes isshown with the (Gly₄Ser)₃ linker in bold typeface. The amino terminus ofthe V_(L)−V_(H) fusion cassette was fused at the SalI site to the L6light chain variable region leader peptide, and the carboxy terminus wasfused directly to the hinge region of the Fc domain at the BclI site orto a short “helical” peptide linker to construct the bispecificCD3-L6FvIg antibody derivative. The variable regions for L6 were fusedin: frame to the opposite end of the “helical” linker as shown in FIGS.1 and 2.

In FIGS. 12A-B, Jurkat cells (10⁷ per sample) were stimulated for 1minute (min) or 3 min with native anti-CD3 Mab G19-4 at 5, 20 or 80μg/ml or with CD3Fv-Ig at 1, 5, or 20 μg/ml, as indicated. Proteins fromcell lysates were immunoprecipitated with rabbit anti-p-tyr (Panel A) orPLCγ1 antiserum (Panel B) and were recovered with protein A sepharose,separated by SDS-PAGE, transferred to nitrocellulose and detected withpurified rabbit anti-p-tyr and ¹²⁵I-labelled protein A.

FIGS. 5A-D are line graphs showing that CD3Fv fusion derivatives exhibitdifferent levels of transmembrane signalling activity. FIGS. 5A-B showthat CD3FvIg mobilizes intracellular calcium in peripheral blood Tcells. Flow cytometry and the calcium binding dye indo-1 were used tomonitor the concentration of intracellular free calcium ([Ca²⁺])following stimulation with CD3FvIg(_._._), native CD3 Mab( - - - ), or anon T cell binding control-L6FvIg( . . . ). Each stimulus (2 μg) wasadded to indo-1 loaded T cells at 1 min (arrow) where 130 nm=restingcells, and as percent responding cells.

FIGS. 5C-D shows the pretreatment with CD3FvIg desensitizes the responseof peripheral blood T cells to subsequent stimulation of cross linkedCD2. Indo-1 loaded cells were incubated with 1 μg of CD3FvIg, 2 μg ofnative CD3 mAb, or L6FvIg (non T cell binding control) for 15 minutes at37 degrees centigrade. Biotinylated anti-CD2 mAb (5 μg) was added at 1min and was cross linked by avidin (20 μg) at 5 min. Responses to crosslinked CD2 were then monitored for 5 min. Data are represented as([Ca²⁺]) where 130 nM=resting cells (panel A), and as percent respondingcells (panel B).

In proliferation assays of peripheral blood lymphocytes and purified Tcells responding to stimulation with the CD3 antibody derivatives atvarious concentrations, we found that all the CD3 derivatives activatedT cells. In Table 1, the proliferative responses measured at antibodytreatments of 1 μg/ml are shown. A similar pattern of proliferativeresponses was observed at both 0.2 and 5 μg/ml. The data indicate thatbinding of the CD3 derivatives elicits proliferative responses in Tcells similar to those observed with either native G19-4 (compared tothe CD3Fv-Ig) or the Fab fragment (compared to the sFv) of the murineantibody. The genetically engineered molecules stimulated slightlystronger levels of proliferation from purified T cells, and slightlyweaker levels from PBL, with the exception of CD3Fv-Ig acting in synergywith PMA to produce stronger proliferative responses in PBL than thoseobserved with native G19-4.

Because the two tagged CD3 fusion proteins exhibited strongertransmembrane signalling activity than native antibody, we wished todetermine how these molecules affected T cell proliferation. Peripheralblood lymphocytes and purified T cells were incubated for 72 hours withantibody derivatives at various concentrations and pulsed with tritiatedthymidine for 6 hours prior to harvesting and counting. Table 1 displaysresults of antibody treatments at 1 μg/ml. A similar pattern ofproliferative responses was observed at both 0.2 and 5 μg/ml as well.

TABLE 1 CD3 Single Chain Molecules Stimulate T Cell Proliferation in thePresence of Monocytes and are Synergistic for Activation of T Cells inthe Presence of PMA or 9.3. Proliferation (day 3, cpm × 10⁻³) Purified TCells + PBMC + Purified T Cells + Stimulus (2 μg/ml 9.3) Medium (0.5ng/ml PMA) Medium 0.8 2.7 6 G19-4 11.2 49 83.6 CD3FvIg 9.3 55.6 112.5CD3HIV 105 30.5 103 G19-4 Fab 58.4 2.1 N.D. OKT3 6.15 77 76 BC3 2.95 0.887.3 CD3STOP (25 ul) 55 3.4 65 L6FvIg 0.5 2.6 5.7

Proliferation was measured after 72 hours of culture by pulsing cellsfor 6 hours with 1 μCi/well [³H]-thymidine. T cells were purified awayfrom monocytes and B cells by two plastic adherence followed by passageover nylon wool columns.

The data indicate that under the conditions examined here, binding ofthe CD3 derivatives elicits proliferative responses in T cells similarto those observed with either G19-4 (Ig fusion) or the Fab fragment (HIVand STOP fusions) of the murine antibody. The genetically engineeredmolecules tended to stimulate slightly stronger levels of proliferationfrom purified T cells, and slightly weaker levels from PBL, although thedifferences are insignificant in most instances. The only exception tothis pattern is the stronger proliferative response generated by theCD3sFvIg and CD3HIV constructs in synergy with PMA when compared withnative G19-4.

CD3-L6 Bispecific Fusion Protein Mediates Adhesion Between Jurkat andH2981 Tumor Cells. A previously developed cell adhesion assay (Linsleyet al., 1990a) was used to determine whether a single CD3-L6 bispecificmolecule was capable of binding to CD3- or L6-expressing cellssimultaneously. Jurkat cells were first incubated with anti-CD3 or withCD3-L6FvIg. Cells were washed and added to adherent H2981 cellspreincubated with or without L6FvIg. Microscopic examination of theH2981 monolayers (FIG. 6) demonstrated that CD3-L6FvIg protein mediatedadhesion between Jurkat and H2981 cells in the presence of EDTA, butonly when CD3 and L6 receptors were not blocked by ligand. Todemonstrate quantitatively that the molecules were truly bifunctional,Jurkat cells were prelabelled with ⁵¹Cr and then incubated with thefusion protein and H2981 tumor cells. The number of counts bound to theunlabelled monolayer in the presence of the CD3-L6 bispecific fusionprotein was much higher than for cells prebound to the unlinked CD3 andL6 antibodies.

CD3-L6Ig bispecific fusion protein targets T cell cytotoxicity to H2981tumor cells (FIG. 7). H2981 tumor cells were labelled for 2 hours with⁵¹Cr and incubated with antibody stimuli and PBL at effector to targetratios of 10:1 and 100:1 (FIG. 7). Chromium release was measured asdescribed in Materials and Methods, and specific lysis tabulated foreach antibody derivative from triplicate cultures (SEM<12%) (FIG. 7).For inhibition assays, the CD3 or L6Ig monospecific derivatives wereincubated with the appropriate cell type prior to addition of theCD3-L6Ig bispecific molecule (FIG. 7). Preincubation with eithermonospecific molecules was unable to inhibit stimulation of cytotoxicityby the bispecific construct (FIG. 7).

CD3-L6 Bispecific Fusion Protein Targets T Cell Cytotoxicity to H2981Tumor Cells. Next, we wished to determine the biological consequences ofcoupling these two antigen binding domains into a single molecule. Wereasoned that genetically engineered bifunctional molecules whichpromote adhesion between tumor cells and T cells might alter the natureor magnitude of responses to receptor binding.

To eliminate background contributions from IgG-mediated effectorfunctions, the antigen binding portion of the molecule was attached tothe Fc monomer mutant which fails to mediate these functions as a resultof a praline to serine mutation in CH2 and several cysteine to serinesubstitutions in the hinge region. A standard cytotoxicity assay usingH2981 tumor cells as the targets for lysis was performed. Resting PBLwere used as effector cells to determine if resting or native cellscould be activated to target their cytotoxicity to the tumor (FIG. 7).

At effector to target ratios of 10:1, the CD3-L6FvIg molecule mediated30% specific lysis, while at ratios of 100:1, specific lysis rose to71%. The level of specific lysis for CD3FvIg and L6FvIg mixed together,or for either molecule alone ranged from 3% to 5% at E:T of 10:1, and 9%to 20% at E:T of 100:1. Although kill levels were reduced slightly, theCD3FvIg and L6FvIg antibody derivatives failed to completely block thetargeted cytotoxicity mediated by the CD3-L6 fusion protein. PHAactivated T cell blasts were also used as effectors in this assay, butexhibited high levels of background killing.

CD3-L6Ig bispecific fusion protein stimulates high levels of T cellproliferation when bound to H2981 tumor cells (FIG. 8). PBL wereisolated and cultured in the presence of the indicated stimulators of Tcell proliferation and irradiated H2981 tumor cells. Stimulators wereadded in solution at either 1 or 10 μg/ml. For prebinding experiments,H2981 tumor cells were irradiated and incubated with 10 μg/ml antibodyderivative for one hour on ice, washed several times to remove unboundantibody, and added at varying ratios to PBL at 5×10⁴ cell/well. Afterthree days of culture, proliferation was measured by uptake of[³H]thymidine for 6 hours. Values were determined by quadruplicatecultures for each treatment (SEM<15%).

CD3-L6 Bispecific Fusion Protein Stimulates High Levels of T CellProliferation In Vitro. We investigated whether triggering the CD3 Tcell surface receptor (CD3/TCR complex) by the CD3-L6FvIg fusion proteinwas stimulatory for T cell proliferation. Proliferation assays wereperformed using resting PBL incubated with irradiated H2981 tumor cellsand the stimuli (fusion protein) in solution.

Alternatively, stimulating proteins were prebound to the irradiatedtumor cells and unbound protein was removed by several washes prior toinclusion in the assay, eliminating molecules incapable of binding to L6antigen from contribution to stimulation of T cells through CD3. TheH2981 tumor cells tended to bind nonspecifically even to those antibodyderivatives mutated in the Fc domain, so to eliminate this source ofnonspecific background from the assay, an irrelevant antibody wasincubated with the cells before addition of the stimuli of interest.FIG. 8 displays the results of both the solution and prebindingproliferation experiments.

The levels of proliferation were markedly enhanced in the presence ofthe CD3-L6FvIg bispecific fusion protein at 10 μg/ml, and significantlevels of proliferation were observed even at 1 μg/ml. Prebinding L6FvIgto the tumor cells before addition of the bispecific molecule eliminatedthis stimulation of T cell proliferation induced by the coated tumorcells. CD3IG fusion protein could stimulate significant levels ofproliferation when present in solution independent of the presence orabsence of the tumor cells. These molecules were evidently removed inthe washing steps of the tumor cell prebinding assays because onlybackground levels of proliferation were observed under these conditions.These results demonstrate the ability of the CD3-L6 bispecific fusionprotein to target T cell cytotoxicity and stimulated T cellproliferation when bound to H2981 tumor cells.

35 1 72 DNA Homo sapiens 1 agcttatgga ttttcaagtg cagattttca gcttcctgctaatcagtgct tcagtcataa 60 tgtccagagg ag 72 2 72 DNA Homo sapiens 2tcgactcctc tggacattat gactgaagca ctgattagca ggaagctgaa aatctgcact 60tgaaaatcca ta 72 3 20 PRT Homo sapiens 3 Arg Lys Ser Ile Arg Ile Gln ArgGly Pro Gly Arg Ala Phe Val Thr 1 5 10 15 Ile Gly Lys Ile 20 4 76 DNAHomo sapiens 4 gatcaagatc cgcggaaatc gattagaatc cagagaggcc ctgggcgcgccttcgttacg 60 atcggcaaga tctagt 76 5 76 DNA Homo sapiens 5 ctagactagatcttgccgat cgtaacgaag gcgcgcccag ggcctctctg gattctaatc 60 gatttccgcggatctt 76 6 51 DNA Homo sapiens 6 gatcaagact acaaggacga cgatgacaagtgagcggccg cgaattcgtc t 51 7 51 DNA Homo sapiens 7 ctagagacga attcgcggccgctcacttgt catcgtcgtc cttgtagtct t 51 8 39 DNA Homo sapiens 8 ggtgctctgatcactgtggc tgcaccatct gtcttcatc 39 9 39 DNA Homo sapiens 9 cctcctcattctagactaac actctcccct gttgaagct 39 10 77 DNA Homo sapiens 10 gatcaatccaactctgaaga agcaaagaaa gaggaggcca aaaaggagga agccaagaat 60 ctaacagcctcgagagc 77 11 78 DNA Homo sapiens 11 gatcgctctc gaggctgtta gatttcttggcttcctcctt tttggcctcc tctttctttg 60 cttcttcaga gttggatt 78 12 27 PRTHomo sapiens 12 Asp Gln Ser Asn Ser Glu Glu Ala Lys Lys Glu Glu Ala LysLys Glu 1 5 10 15 Glu Ala Lys Lys Ser Asn Ser Leu Glu Ser Leu 20 25 1335 DNA Homo sapiens 13 gcatgtgcaa gtccgatgag tccccccccc ccccc 35 14 36DNA Homo sapiens 14 acgtcgagaa ttcgcatgtg caagtccgat gagtcc 36 15 30 DNAHomo sapiens 15 atctccacac acaggaacca gtggatagac 30 16 25 DNA Homosapiens 16 cttccacttg acattgatgt ctttg 25 17 22 DNA Homo sapiens 17caagaagcac acgactgagg ca 22 18 302 PRT Homo sapiens 18 Met Asp Phe GlnVal Gln Ile Phe Ser Phe Leu Leu Ile Ser Ala Ser 1 5 10 15 Val Ile MetSer Arg Gly Val Asp Ile Gln Met Thr Gln Thr Thr Ser 20 25 30 Ser Leu SerAla Ser Leu Gly Asp Arg Val Thr Ile Ser Cys Arg Ala 35 40 45 Ser Gln AspIle Arg Asn Tyr Leu Asn Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pro Asp 50 55 60 Gly Thr ValLys Leu Leu Ile Tyr Tyr Thr Ser Arg Leu His Ser Gly 65 70 75 80 Val ProSer Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Tyr Ser Leu 85 90 95 Thr IleAla Asn Leu Gln Pro Glu Asp Ile Ala Thr Tyr Phe Cys Gln 100 105 110 GlnGly Asn Thr Leu Pro Trp Thr Phe Gly Gly Gly Thr Lys Leu Val 115 120 125Thr Lys Arg Glu Leu Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly 130 135140 Gly Gly Gly Ser Ile Asp Glu Val Gln Leu Gln Gln Ser Gly Pro Glu 145150 155 160 Leu Val Lys Pro Gly Ala Ser Met Thr Met Ser Cys Lys Ala SerGly 165 170 175 Tyr Ser Phe Thr Gly Tyr Ile Val Asn Trp Leu Lys Gln SerHis Gly 180 185 190 Lys Asn Leu Glu Trp Ile Gly Leu Ile Asn Pro Trp LysGly Leu Thr 195 200 205 Thr Tyr Asn Gln Lys Phe Lys Gly Lys Ala Thr LeuThr Val Asp Lys 210 215 220 Ser Ser Ser Thr Ala Tyr Met Glu Leu Leu SerLeu Thr Ser Glu Asp 225 230 235 240 Ser Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Ala Arg SerGly Tyr Tyr Gly Asp Ser Asp 245 250 255 Trp Tyr Phe Asp Val Trp Gly AlaGly Thr Thr Cys Thr Val Ser Ser 260 265 270 Phe Glu Ser Asp Gln Ser AsnSer Glu Glu Ala Lys Lys Glu Glu Ala 275 280 285 Lys Lys Glu Glu Ala LysLys Ser Asn Ser Leu Glu Ser Leu 290 295 300 19 30 PRT Homo sapiens 19Asp Gln Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Thr His Thr Cys Pro Pro Cys 1 5 1015 Pro Ala Pro Glu Leu Leu Gly Gly Pro Ser Val Phe Leu Phe 20 25 30 2030 PRT Homo sapiens 20 Asp Gln Glu Pro Lys Ser Ser Asp Lys Thr His ThrSer Pro Pro Ser 1 5 10 15 Pro Ala Pro Glu Leu Leu Gly Gly Ser Ser ValPhe Leu Phe 20 25 30 21 30 PRT Homo sapiens 21 Asp Gln Glu Pro Lys SerSer Asp Lys Thr His Thr Ser Pro Pro Ser 1 5 10 15 Pro Ala Pro Glu LeuLeu Gly Gly Pro Ser Val Phe Leu Phe 20 25 30 22 30 PRT Homo sapiens 22Asp Gln Glu Pro Lys Ser Ser Asp Lys Thr His Thr Ser Pro Pro Ser 1 5 1015 Pro Ala Pro Glu Phe Glu Gly Ala Pro Ser Val Phe Leu Phe 20 25 30 2330 PRT Homo sapiens 23 Asp Gln Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Thr His ThrCys Pro Pro Cys 1 5 10 15 Pro Ala Pro Glu Phe Glu Gly Ala Pro Ser ValPhe Leu Phe 20 25 30 24 30 PRT Homo sapiens 24 Asp Gln Glu Pro Lys SerCys Asp Lys Thr His Thr Cys Pro Pro Cys 1 5 10 15 Pro Ala Pro Glu LeuLeu Gly Gly Pro Ser Val Phe Leu Pro 20 25 30 25 30 PRT Homo sapiens 25Asp Gln Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Thr His Thr Cys Pro Pro Cys 1 5 1015 Pro Ala Pro Glu Phe Glu Gly Ala Pro Ser Val Phe Leu Pro 20 25 30 2630 PRT Homo sapiens 26 Asp Gln Glu Pro Lys Ser Ser Asp Lys Thr His ThrSer Pro Pro Ser 1 5 10 15 Pro Ala Pro Glu Leu Leu Gly Gly Pro Ser ValPhe Leu Pro 20 25 30 27 30 PRT Homo sapiens 27 Asp Gln Glu Pro Lys SerSer Asp Lys Thr His Thr Ser Pro Pro Ser 1 5 10 15 Pro Ala Pro Glu LeuLeu Gly Gly Ser Ser Val Phe Leu Pro 20 25 30 28 30 PRT Homo sapiens 28Asp Gln Glu Pro Lys Ser Ser Asp Lys Thr His Thr Ser Pro Pro Ser 1 5 1015 Pro Ala Pro Glu Phe Glu Gly Ala Pro Ser Val Phe Leu Pro 20 25 30 29916 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (7)..(915) 29 aagctt atg gat ttt caa gtg cagatt ttc agc ttc ctg cta atc agt 48 Met Asp Phe Gln Val Gln Ile Phe SerPhe Leu Leu Ile Ser 1 5 10 gct tca gtc ata atg tcc aga gga gtc gac atccag atg aca cag act 96 Ala Ser Val Ile Met Ser Arg Gly Val Asp Ile GlnMet Thr Gln Thr 15 20 25 30 aca tcc tcc ctg tct gcc tct ctg gga gac agagtc acc atc agt tgc 144 Thr Ser Ser Leu Ser Ala Ser Leu Gly Asp Arg ValThr Ile Ser Cys 35 40 45 agg gca agt cag gac att cgc aat tat tta aac tggtat cag cag aaa 192 Arg Ala Ser Gln Asp Ile Arg Asn Tyr Leu Asn Trp TyrGln Gln Lys 50 55 60 cca gat gga act gtt aaa ctc ctg atc tac tac aca tcaaga tta cac 240 Pro Asp Gly Thr Val Lys Leu Leu Ile Tyr Tyr Thr Ser ArgLeu His 65 70 75 tca gga gtc cca tca agg ttc agt ggc agt ggg tct gga acagat tat 288 Ser Gly Val Pro Ser Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr AspTyr 80 85 90 tct ctc acc att gcc aac ctg caa cca gaa gat att gcc act tacttt 336 Ser Leu Thr Ile Ala Asn Leu Gln Pro Glu Asp Ile Ala Thr Tyr Phe95 100 105 110 tgc caa cag ggt aat acg ctt ccg tgg acg ttc ggt gga ggcacc aaa 384 Cys Gln Gln Gly Asn Thr Leu Pro Trp Thr Phe Gly Gly Gly ThrLys 115 120 125 ctg gta acc aaa cgg gag ctc ggt ggc ggt ggc tcg ggc ggtggt ggg 432 Leu Val Thr Lys Arg Glu Leu Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly GlyGly 130 135 140 tcg ggt ggc ggc gga tct atc gat gag gtc cag ctg caa cagtct gga 480 Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Ile Asp Glu Val Gln Leu Gln Gln SerGly 145 150 155 cct gaa ctg gtg aag cct gga gct tca atg aca atg tcc tgcaag gcc 528 Pro Glu Leu Val Lys Pro Gly Ala Ser Met Thr Met Ser Cys LysAla 160 165 170 tct ggt tac tca ttc act ggc tac atc gtg aac tgg ctg aagcag agc 576 Ser Gly Tyr Ser Phe Thr Gly Tyr Ile Val Asn Trp Leu Lys GlnSer 175 180 185 190 cat gga aag aac ctt gag tgg att gga ctt att aat ccatac aaa ggt 624 His Gly Lys Asn Leu Glu Trp Ile Gly Leu Ile Asn Pro TyrLys Gly 195 200 205 ctt act acc tac aac cag aaa ttc aag ggc aag gcc acatta act gta 672 Leu Thr Thr Tyr Asn Gln Lys Phe Lys Gly Lys Ala Thr LeuThr Val 210 215 220 gac aag tca tcc agc aca gcc tac atg gag ctc ctc agtctg aca tct 720 Asp Lys Ser Ser Ser Thr Ala Tyr Met Glu Leu Leu Ser LeuThr Ser 225 230 235 gaa gac tct gca gtc tat tac tgt gca aga tct ggg tactat ggt gac 768 Glu Asp Ser Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Ala Arg Ser Gly Tyr TyrGly Asp 240 245 250 tcg gac tgg tac ttc gat gtc tgg ggc gca ggg acc acgtgc acc gtc 816 Ser Asp Trp Tyr Phe Asp Val Trp Gly Ala Gly Thr Thr CysThr Val 255 260 265 270 tcc tca ttc gaa taa tct gat caa tcc aac tct gaagaa gca aag aaa 864 Ser Ser Phe Glu Ser Asp Gln Ser Asn Ser Glu Glu AlaLys Lys 275 280 285 gag gag gcc aaa aag gag gaa gcc aag aaa tct aac agcctc gag agc 912 Glu Glu Ala Lys Lys Glu Glu Ala Lys Lys Ser Asn Ser LeuGlu Ser 290 295 300 cta g 916 Leu 30 274 PRT Homo sapiens 30 Met Asp PheGln Val Gln Ile Phe Ser Phe Leu Leu Ile Ser Ala Ser 1 5 10 15 Val IleMet Ser Arg Gly Val Asp Ile Gln Met Thr Gln Thr Thr Ser 20 25 30 Ser LeuSer Ala Ser Leu Gly Asp Arg Val Thr Ile Ser Cys Arg Ala 35 40 45 Ser GlnAsp Ile Arg Asn Tyr Leu Asn Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pro Asp 50 55 60 Gly ThrVal Lys Leu Leu Ile Tyr Tyr Thr Ser Arg Leu His Ser Gly 65 70 75 80 ValPro Ser Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Tyr Ser Leu 85 90 95 ThrIle Ala Asn Leu Gln Pro Glu Asp Ile Ala Thr Tyr Phe Cys Gln 100 105 110Gln Gly Asn Thr Leu Pro Trp Thr Phe Gly Gly Gly Thr Lys Leu Val 115 120125 Thr Lys Arg Glu Leu Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly 130135 140 Gly Gly Gly Ser Ile Asp Glu Val Gln Leu Gln Gln Ser Gly Pro Glu145 150 155 160 Leu Val Lys Pro Gly Ala Ser Met Thr Met Ser Cys Lys AlaSer Gly 165 170 175 Tyr Ser Phe Thr Gly Tyr Ile Val Asn Trp Leu Lys GlnSer His Gly 180 185 190 Lys Asn Leu Glu Trp Ile Gly Leu Ile Asn Pro TyrLys Gly Leu Thr 195 200 205 Thr Tyr Asn Gln Lys Phe Lys Gly Lys Ala ThrLeu Thr Val Asp Lys 210 215 220 Ser Ser Ser Thr Ala Tyr Met Glu Leu LeuSer Leu Thr Ser Glu Asp 225 230 235 240 Ser Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Ala ArgSer Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Asp Ser Asp 245 250 255 Trp Tyr Phe Asp Val Trp GlyAla Gly Thr Thr Cys Thr Val Ser Ser 260 265 270 Phe Glu 31 28 PRT Homosapiens 31 Ser Asp Gln Ser Asn Ser Glu Glu Ala Lys Lys Glu Glu Ala LysLys 1 5 10 15 Glu Glu Ala Lys Lys Ser Asn Ser Leu Glu Ser Leu 20 25 32302 PRT Homo sapiens 32 Met Asp Phe Gln Val Gln Ile Phe Ser Phe Leu LeuIle Ser Ala Ser 1 5 10 15 Val Ile Met Ser Arg Gly Val Asp Ile Gln MetThr Gln Thr Thr Ser 20 25 30 Ser Leu Ser Ala Ser Leu Gly Asp Arg Val ThrIle Ser Cys Arg Ala 35 40 45 Ser Gln Asp Ile Arg Asn Tyr Leu Asn Trp TyrGln Gln Lys Pro Asp 50 55 60 Gly Thr Val Lys Leu Leu Ile Tyr Tyr Thr SerArg Leu His Ser Gly 65 70 75 80 Val Pro Ser Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly SerGly Thr Asp Tyr Ser Leu 85 90 95 Thr Ile Ala Asn Leu Gln Pro Glu Asp IleAla Thr Tyr Phe Cys Gln 100 105 110 Gln Gly Asn Thr Leu Pro Trp Thr PheGly Gly Gly Thr Lys Leu Val 115 120 125 Thr Lys Arg Glu Leu Gly Gly GlyGly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly 130 135 140 Gly Gly Gly Ser Ile Asp GluVal Gln Leu Gln Gln Ser Gly Pro Glu 145 150 155 160 Leu Val Lys Pro GlyAla Ser Met Thr Met Ser Cys Lys Ala Ser Gly 165 170 175 Tyr Ser Phe ThrGly Tyr Ile Val Asn Trp Leu Lys Gln Ser His Gly 180 185 190 Lys Asn LeuGlu Trp Ile Gly Leu Ile Asn Pro Tyr Lys Gly Leu Thr 195 200 205 Thr TyrAsn Gln Lys Phe Lys Gly Lys Ala Thr Leu Thr Val Asp Lys 210 215 220 SerSer Ser Thr Ala Tyr Met Glu Leu Leu Ser Leu Thr Ser Glu Asp 225 230 235240 Ser Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Ala Arg Ser Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Asp Ser Asp 245250 255 Trp Tyr Phe Asp Val Trp Gly Ala Gly Thr Thr Cys Thr Val Ser Ser260 265 270 Phe Glu Ser Asp Gln Ser Asn Ser Glu Glu Ala Lys Lys Glu GluAla 275 280 285 Lys Lys Glu Glu Ala Lys Lys Ser Asn Ser Leu Glu Ser Leu290 295 300 33 45 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of ArtificialSequence (Gly4Ser)3 LINKER 33 ggtggcggtg gctcgggcgg tggtgggtcgggtggcggcg gatct 45 34 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description ofArtificial Sequence (Gly4Ser)3 LINKER 34 Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly GlyGly Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser 1 5 10 15 35 5 PRT Artificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence (Gly4Ser)3 LINKER 35 Glu Glu Ala LysLys 1 5

What is claimed is:
 1. A fusion protein comprising an extracellulardomain of CTLA4 molecule capable of recognizing and binding a B7 antigenand a portion of a modified immunoglobulin molecule, thereby mediatingIg effector function.
 2. The fusion protein of claim 1, wherein theimmunoglobulin is modified in the Ig hinge domain.
 3. The fusion proteinof claim 1, wherein the immunoglobulin is modified in the Ig CH2 domain.4. The fusion protein of claim 1, wherein the immunoglobulin is modifiedin the Ig hinge and the CH2 domain.
 5. The fusion protein of claim 1,wherein the Ig hinge and CH2 domains correspond to amino acids 3-30 ofSEQ ID NO:20.
 6. The fusion protein of claim 1, wherein the fusionprotein reduces antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity.
 7. The fusionprotein of claim 1, wherein the fusion protein eliminates antibodydependent cellular cytotoxicity.
 8. The fusion protein of claim 2,wherein cysteine residues of the hinge domain are replaced with serines.9. The fusion protein of claim 2, wherein the hinge domain comprisesamino acid residues 3-17 of any one of SEQ. ID. NOS:20-22.
 10. Thefusion protein of claim 3, wherein the CH2 domain comprises amino acids18-30 of SEQ. ID. NO:20.
 11. An expression vector encoding a fusionprotein comprising a recombinant single chain cassette having a (1) DNAsequence encoding an extracellular domain of a CTLA4 molecule and (2) aDNA sequence encoding a modified immunoglobulin molecule.
 12. Aeukaryotic cell transfected by the expression vector of claim
 11. 13. Amethod for producing a biologically active fusion protein in a mammaliancell which comprises: (a) transfecting the mammalian cell with therecombinant expression vector of claim 11, (b) culturing the mammaliancell so transfected in step (a); and (c) recovering the biologicallyactive fusion protein so produced by the cultured mammalian cell. 14.The eukaryotic cell of claim 12, wherein the eukaryotic cell is amammalian cell.
 15. A method for producing a biologically active fusionprotein comprising culturing the cells of claim 14 so as to produce theprotein and recovering the protein so produced.
 16. A method of claim13, wherein recovering the fusion protein comprises: (a) identifying thebiologically active fusion protein by the presence of the molecular tag;and (b) separating the biologically active fusion protein having themolecular tag so identified from molecules without the molecular tag, soas to recover the biologically active fusion protein so produced by thecultured mammalin cell.
 17. A biologically active fusion proteinproduced by the method of claim 13.